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. Color names such as Calacatta Verde, Calacatta Gray and Calacatta Viola are variations on the look, and we explain them below.
- 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:
- Calacatta Gold Marble Tile – 12x24, Polished
- Calacatta Gold Marble Tile – 18x18, Polished
- Calacatta Gold Marble Tile – 24x24, Polished
All Calacatta Gold · All Calacatta Oliva
Calacatta tile: Calacatta Gold and Calacatta Oliva, shop by look
Calacatta Gold comes as field tile, mosaics, accent and trim pieces and liners in Polished, Honed, Tumbled and Split-Faced options. Mosaic shapes include herringbone, hexagon, chevron, and diamond. Calacatta Oliva comes Honed and Polished, with hexagon, basketweave, herringbone and arabesque lantern mosaics and a single-step chair rail. For the violet-toned look, see Calacatta Viola marble tile. Or browse all white marble tile and marble mosaic tile.
Calacatta marble samples
Any 5 samples are $25 and ship free. Order Calacatta samples, see how Anaheim pickup works, and plan quantities with the tile calculator.
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.
Calacatta color names: Gray, Mink, Rosso, Nero, Verde and Viola
Calacatta names that add a color word describe the background or the veining. Gray points to a grey look, mink to a brown-grey tone, rosso to red tones, nero to dark, verde to green tones and viola to violet tones. The stone behind each name varies by seller and quarry, so compare samples instead of relying on the name. SoCal Tiles sells Calacatta Gold and Calacatta Oliva and also lists Calacatta Viola. For other color directions, browse gray marble tile, green marble tile and black marble tile.
Calacatta Viola texture
Calacatta Viola is a white marble with violet-toned veining. On a polished surface the veins read as crisp streaks and cloudy bands, and the pattern changes from tile to tile, so order a sample of the exact tile before you decide.
Paint colors that go with Calacatta Gold marble
Pull your paint from the gold in the veining. Warm whites, soft creams and gentle greige make the gold glow, while crisp cool whites and light greys quiet it down. Hold a sample next to your swatch in the room's own light. Need help matching? Try find a matching natural stone tile or see natural stone color codes.
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.
Want one consistent look across a whole room? Read about our same-lot guarantee, and plan quantities with the quantity and layout review.
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.
What is Calacatta marble? Calacatta meaning
Calacatta is a trade name for white marbles with bold veining, not a single quarry or one exact stone. So "what does Calacatta mean" has a practical answer: it tells you the look, white with dramatic veins, and you check the full variety name to learn more. For a deeper read, see our ultimate guide to Calacatta marble.
Italian Calacatta marble and Calacatta marble from Italy
Italian Calacatta comes from the Carrara district in Tuscany, where varieties such as Calacatta Gold, Calacatta Borghini and Calacatta Macchia Vecchia are quarried. Not all Calacatta is Italian, as the American examples above show. See Carrara Marble for the district, and Calacatta Gold vs Bianco Carrara to choose between the two.
Types of Calacatta marble
Types you will see include Calacatta Gold (also called Calacatta Oro), Calacatta Borghini, Calacatta Macchia Vecchia, Calacatta Oliva, and American examples such as Calacatta Lincoln and Calacatta Columbus. Other suffixes, such as Royale, Fiore, Bettogli, Sponda, Isla and Imperiale, are variety or product-line names that differ by seller and quarry. SoCal Tiles sells Calacatta Gold and Calacatta Oliva.
Calacatta Verde: the name
Calacatta Verde is a name used for white marble with green-toned veining. SoCal Tiles does not sell a stone under that name. For a white and green look, compare green marble tile with Calacatta Gold samples.
Good to know
Caring for Calacatta marble
Calacatta is a calcium-carbonate stone, so acids such as lemon or vinegar can etch it, and white marble shows marks more easily than a busy, darker stone. Seal it, clean with a pH-neutral cleaner, wipe spills fast, and learn the difference between etching and staining. If a stain happens, see how to remove stains from marble. A honed finish tends to hide etch marks better than polished: see honed vs polished stone.
Where Calacatta works well
Calacatta is a favorite for backsplashes, bathroom floors and floors. Before you buy, read the buying guide and the installation guide, and browse more stones in the Stone Encyclopedia.
Helpful guides: Marble tile cost guide · White marble tile guide
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.
What is Calacatta marble?
Calacatta is a trade name for white marbles with bold veining. In its original sense it means some of the rarer varieties from the Carrara district in Tuscany, and the name is also used for similar marble quarried elsewhere. It tells you the look, not one exact quarry.
What does Calacatta mean?
Calacatta is the name used in the stone trade for a group of white marbles with dramatic, widely spaced veining. Treat it as a style name and check the full variety name, such as Calacatta Gold or Calacatta Oliva, to learn more.
Where is Italian Calacatta marble from, and what are Calacatta marble types?
Italian Calacatta is quarried in the Carrara district of Tuscany. Types include Calacatta Gold (Oro), Calacatta Borghini and Calacatta Macchia Vecchia from Italy, Calacatta Oliva, and American examples such as Calacatta Lincoln and Calacatta Columbus.
What is Calacatta Verde?
Calacatta Verde is a name used for white marble with green-toned veining. SoCal Tiles does not sell a stone under that name. For a white and green look, compare green marble tile with Calacatta Gold samples.
What are Calacatta Gray, Mink, Rosso and Nero?
These are color-word names. Gray suggests a grey look, mink a brown-grey tone, rosso red tones and nero a dark look. The exact stone behind each name varies by seller and quarry, so judge by sample.
What is Calacatta Viola, and what is its texture like?
Calacatta Viola is a white marble with violet-toned veining. On a polished surface the veins read as crisp streaks and cloudy bands, and the pattern changes from tile to tile. SoCal Tiles lists a Calacatta Viola collection, and a sample shows the exact pattern.
What are Calacatta Royale, Fiore, Bettogli, Sponda, Isla and Imperiale?
These are variety or product-line names added to Calacatta, and what they mean differs by seller and quarry. The name alone does not guarantee the veining or color, so compare samples side by side.
What paint colors go with Calacatta Gold marble?
Warm whites, soft creams and gentle greige pick up the gold in the veining. Crisp cool whites and light greys quiet the gold down. Hold a sample next to your paint swatch in the room's light before you commit.
Can I get Calacatta marble samples?
Yes. Any 5 samples are $25 and ship free. Choose Calacatta Gold or Calacatta Oliva from the product pages and add samples to your order.
Does Calacatta marble stain or etch, and does it need sealing?
Calacatta is a calcium-carbonate stone, so acids such as lemon or vinegar can etch it, and sealing makes it more stain resistant but not stain-proof. Seal it, use a pH-neutral cleaner and wipe spills quickly.
What finishes and mosaic shapes does Calacatta come in?
Calacatta Gold comes in Polished, Honed, Tumbled and Split-Faced options, with mosaics such as herringbone, hexagon, chevron and diamond. Calacatta Oliva comes Honed and Polished, with hexagon, basketweave, herringbone and arabesque lantern mosaics. Check each product page for the exact tile and finish.
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)