Marmorino is the diminutive form of the Italian word Marmo (marble) referring to the small white marble sand it contains. This treasured, pure marble is cut from the same mountain in the Tuscan town of Carrara as the block of marble from which Michelangelo brought forth the world's most renown sculpture, David.
The use of Marmorino was widespread by the Romans in the time of Empire. Instructions for its composition were well documented by the famous Roman architect Vitruvius in his work De Architectura. His formulations were rediscovered and put to extensive use by the 15th Century architects and artisans of the Rebuplic of Venice.
During that time a variation of Marmorino called Cocciopesto was used as an exterior coating due to its properties of resisting capillary water rise in the extremely wet and humid Venetian environment. Cocciopesto Marmorino owes its name to the Coccio (baked) Pesto (crushed) clay roof tiles that were added for that purpose.
The modern day popularity of Marmorino throughout Italy and the world is largely attributed to the prolific Venetian architect Carlo Scarpa who repeatedly promoted the use of Marmorino in his many projects throughout the 1950's, 60' and 70's.
Today Marmorino and Cocciopesto are treasured around the world for their beauty, durability and versatility. True Marmorino is an entirely mineral based green material that is non-toxic and inherently mold resistant.