Cottanello
Welcome to Western Sabina: the Cottanellina stone
Hello everyone! Today I want to talk to you about a treasure that is located in my beautiful hometown: the Cottanellina stone. This polychrome rock, also known as the Cottanello red marble, is a true wonder of nature, extracted from the quarries of Monte Lacerone, a few kilometers from the town of Cottanello, in the province of Rieti.
Description of the Cottanellina stone
But let's get to the point: the Cottanellina stone, although improperly called marble, is a Marna limestone that stands out for its beautiful chromatic appearance and its polishing characteristics. The prevailing colors are pink and reddish-brown, with veins of white, yellow, or gray calcite, often intertwined to form a lattice. Not all rocks are the same, there are significant differences in color and structure, as can be seen by comparing columns, balustrades, and various wall coverings carved from it.
The morphology of the Cottanellina stone
But what makes the Cottanellina stone even more fascinating is its origin. It was deposited on the bottom of the Tethys Sea about 60 million years ago and was involved in the tertiary tectonic phases that led to the formation of the Apennines. The Red Scallop, to which it belongs, is formed by intercalations of detrital, whitish or pinkish limestones with Foraminifera. The thickness of the formation varies from 100 to 300 meters. The tectonic element that has most strongly determined the variability of the characteristics is the so-called "Sabina Fault", which cuts through the Red Scallop sediments and is the cause of the heterogeneity of the Cottanellina stone.
The history of the Cottanellina stone
But the Cottanellina stone is not just a masterpiece of nature, but also a testimony to the history of the area. Its discovery dates back to ancient Rome, already in the 1st century BC, but actual extraction began in the 3rd century AD. Numerous quarries were opened between Cottanello and the hamlet of Castiglione.
In Roman times, it was mainly used to decorate the floors of public buildings and villas scattered throughout the surrounding area. For example, fragments of Cottanellina stone pavement have been found in the Roman villa of Cottanello, but also in more distant places, such as Lucullus' villa in Terracina.
The Cottanellina stone quarries, which had been abandoned for a long time, were reactivated in the 17th century, during the Renaissance period, when the lithotype reached its maximum popularity thanks to its use in many churches in Lazio and Umbria. In fact, the Cottanellina stone is one of the most common marbles in Baroque Rome.
Conclusion
In short, the Cottanellina stone is truly a wonder of nature and the history of Western Sabina. If you happen to visit this area, do not miss the opportunity to admire its countless uses in the monuments and palaces of the territory, I'm sure you won't regret it!
