Calacatta Marble
Calacatta is the name of a group of white marbles. In its original sense, it means some of the rarer, pricier varieties quarried in the Carrara district of Tuscany, such as Calacatta Gold and Calacatta Borghini. The name is also used for similar-looking marble quarried elsewhere, including the United States. SoCal Tiles sells Calacatta Gold and Calacatta Oliva.
- Also called
- Calacatta Gold; Calacatta Oro
- Family
- Marble
- Color
- White with gold-toned to grey veining
- Name origin
- Exotic varieties quarried in the Carrara district, Tuscany, Italy; also used as a trade name for similar marble quarried elsewhereSource: Carrara marble, Wikipedia; Natural Stone Institute, Stone of the Year
- Commercial class
- One of the district's more expensive exotic variations; Bianco Carrara is the most common typeSource: Carrara marble, Wikipedia
- Acid sensitivity
- Calcareous: acids such as lemon or vinegar can dull or etch the surfaceSource: Natural Stone Institute, Care & Cleaning of Natural Stone
- Finishes at SoCal Tiles
- Polished, Tumbled
SoCal Tiles carries
SoCal Tiles sells Calacatta Gold (mostly Polished; mosaics, field tile and trim) and Calacatta Oliva (Polished). Calacatta Gold field tile examples, each with a sample option:
Appearance and variation
SoCal's Calacatta Gold is a white stone with gold-toned to grey veining. Next to SoCal's Bianco Carrara, the veining is usually bolder and more widely spaced, and the background reads whiter.
The balance of background to veining, and how bold the veining is, varies from block to block and between production lots. Order a sample from the product page before deciding, and keep a large installation to one lot where possible.
About Calacatta Marble
"Calacatta" is used in two ways.
- Named varieties from the Carrara district. Several pricier "exotic" marbles are quarried around Carrara under the Calacatta name, including Calacatta Gold, Calacatta Borghini and Calacatta Macchia Vecchia.
- A broader trade name. The name is also used for white marble with bold veining quarried outside Italy. Calacatta Lincoln, from Colorado Stone Quarries in the United States, was the Natural Stone Institute's 2024 Stone of the Year. Calacatta Columbus won in 2021.
When a page says "Calacatta," check which meaning it uses. See Calacatta vs Carrara.
Caring for natural stone: read our stone care guide.
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Common questions
Is all Calacatta marble from Italy?
No. The name began with varieties quarried in Italy's Carrara district, but it is also used for similar marble quarried elsewhere. For example, Calacatta Lincoln is quarried in Colorado and was the Natural Stone Institute's 2024 Stone of the Year.
Which Calacatta does SoCal Tiles carry?
Calacatta Gold (mosaics, field tile and trim, mostly Polished) and Calacatta Oliva (Polished).
Is Calacatta the same as Carrara?
No. Both names come from the same Italian marble district, but they are sold as different varieties. See Calacatta vs Carrara.
Sources
- Carrara marble, Wikipedia (retrieved 2026-09-24)
- Natural Stone Institute, Stone of the Year (retrieved 2026-09-24)
- Natural Stone Institute, Care & Cleaning of Natural Stone (retrieved 2026-09-23)
- SoCal Tiles product catalog: Calacatta Gold and Calacatta Oliva (retrieved 2026-09-21)