Marble

Palissandro Classico

Palissandro Classico is a classically banded Italian premium marble from the Ossola valley (Crevoladossola/Domodossola, Piedmont) – petrographically a Palaeozoic fine-grained metamorphic marble with a characteristic banding structure that looks like the grain of wood. The trade name “Palissandro” points to the resemblance to rosewood, whose linear grain this marble family quotes. The slab shows a calm, pale white-to-cream dominated ground tone with subtle warm golden and ochre accent veins – the paler batch of the Classico grade. At ROSSITTIS we fabricate Palissandro Classico into prestige wall claddings with bookmatching, bathroom fit-outs, staircases, dining tables, furniture tops, interior floors and special accent elements with an elegant Italian marble effect.

Petrographically a genuine metamorphic marble – a metamorphically recrystallised carbonate rock from the Palaeozoic (around 250 – 540 million years ago), recrystallised by alpine metamorphosis during the Alpine orogeny. The deposit lies in the Ossola valley (Valle Ossola) around Crevoladossola and Domodossola in the province of Verbano-Cusio-Ossola, Piedmont, northern Italy (close to the Swiss border). DNSA entry: #6493. The trade name “Palissandro” derives from the Italian word for rosewood and refers to the characteristic linear banding structure (metamorphic foliation) that looks like wood grain. The Palissandro family comprises several tonal variants: Classico (powerfully banded), Bianco/White (light), Bluette (bluish grey), Brown/Marrone (warm brown). Mineralogically, calcite dominates – it is therefore fully acid-sensitive.

Marble Italy 2.810 kg/m³

Available as: Skirting, Tiles and flooring slabs

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About Palissandro Classico

Background. Palissandro Classico is one of the most significant Italian marbles from the Ossola valley in the Piedmont region – one of the oldest and most productive northern Italian marble producing regions, with a dimension stone tradition more than a thousand years old. The trade name “Palissandro” derives from the Italian word for rosewood and points to the characteristic banding structure of this marble family, which looks like the grain of wood. The “Palissandro” family comprises several tonal variants from the same production area: Palissandro Classico (grey-blue dominated with warm brown accents – the classic grade), Palissandro Bianco/White (paler, whiter), Palissandro Bluette (bluish grey) and Palissandro Brown/Marrone (warm brown). Within the international premium marble family, Palissandro Classico positions itself as the warm, elegant northern Italian choice with characteristic linear banding – markedly different in design terms from the cloudy, animated Carrara grades or the fluid Calacatta veins.

Geology and occurrence. Petrographically, Palissandro Classico is a genuine metamorphic marble – a metamorphically recrystallised carbonate rock that formed from originally sedimentary Palaeozoic limestones (around 250 – 540 million years ago) through Alpine metamorphism during Alpine mountain building. The characteristic banding structure arises from metamorphically concentrated remnants of the original sedimentary material (clay minerals, organic substances, occasionally pyrite, iron oxides) along the bedding planes. The deposit lies in the Ossola valley (“Valle Ossola”) around the towns of Crevoladossola and Domodossola in the province of Verbano-Cusio-Ossola, Piedmont, northern Italy – near the Swiss border. The DNSA (German Natural Stone Archive) lists the grade as entry #6493. Geologically, Palissandro belongs to the Palaeozoic marbles of the Alpine root zone, in contrast to the younger Mesozoic marbles of the Apuan Alps (Carrara).

Appearance. The ground tone is a classic pale building stone white through to a pale grey-creamy beige with subtle warm underlays. Across the surface runs the feature that defines the design: a characteristic linear banding structure in courses of varying strength, which in the Classico grade shows subtle warm golden and ochre accent veins. In the more dramatic batch variants, more powerful grey, blue-grey and brown bands are added, producing the rosewood-grain picture that gives the stone its name. In the batch available here, the paler white-and-cream-tinted aspect dominates, with calm, elegant and subtler accent veins. The banding is, as is typical of the material, directional on one side (a linear foliation structure) – which makes the stone impressive in design terms for bookmatching. From a medium distance the surface works as a calm, elegant white marble picture with fine warm accents; close up one discovers the fine crystalline calcite structure and the characteristic directional veining.

Technical properties (DNSA #6493 / SC). Bulk density 2,810 kg/m³ (above average for marble), compressive strength 165 – 167 MPa, flexural strength 18 – 30 MPa (a wide range – it depends on the direction of the banding), water absorption 0.15 % (very low), Mohs hardness around 3 – 4 (calcite). This places the stone in the most stable range of the marble family and makes it structurally and mechanically suitable for all demanding applications. Acid sensitivity: complete (calcitic) – vinegar, wine, lemon, tomato and cola leave etch marks on the material surface immediately. Frost resistance: not officially documented.

ROSSITTIS range. The surface finishes available from stock are listed in the »Finishes« block further down. From the slabs we produce wall claddings with bookmatching, bathroom fit-outs (vanity units, wall and floor applications, showers with proper waterproofing), staircases with treads and risers, interior floors in large format or tile format, dining tables, buffet and furniture tops, skirtings and window sills.

Comparison. Within the Palissandro family from the Ossola valley, Classico positions itself as the powerful, animated grade. Related tonal variants are Palissandro Bianco/White (paler, whiter, calmer), Palissandro Bluette/Bluette Chiaro (bluish grey, more elegant), Palissandro Brown/Marrone (warm brown dominant) and Palissandro Smeraldo (greenish tinted). Compared with Carrara marbles such as Bianco Carrara, Statuario or Calacatta, Palissandro shows a markedly more linear banding structure (foliation) instead of fluid veining – that is the distinguishing feature in design terms. Compared with Bardiglio marbles (Friuli, Lombardy), Palissandro shows more varied colour variation. Compared with black-and-white striped quartzites such as Eclipse, Palissandro remains a classic Italian calcite marble with the corresponding care requirements.

An honest assessment. Palissandro Classico is the ideal choice for any application in which a classically Italian, linearly banded marble character is wanted. The grade works particularly strongly as a statement wall cladding with bookmatching in luxurious residential and hospitality spaces, as a dining table or bar counter top with a dramatic slab layout, as a bathroom fit-out and as a staircase in elegant entrance areas. Anyone looking for a cloudy, animated Carrara effect should reach for Bianco Carrara or Calacatta grades; anyone who wants a calmer, more homogeneous marble effect should switch to Bianco Sivec or Bianco Carrara CD; anyone who needs an acid-resistant stone for heavily used kitchen worktops or exterior applications should switch to a quartzite or a porcelain with a similar banded look (e.g. ABK Atlantis Smoke).

In stock

Current availability from our warehouse.

26 slabs in stock · plus 24 blocks

Thicknesses: 1–1.5 cm · Finishes: Polished · Available as: Skirting, Tiles and flooring slabs

Updated daily from our live stock.

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Technical data

Guide values for the stone type, taken from manufacturer and test reports. Natural stone is a natural product — individual batches and slabs can differ. For critical applications, request slab-specific test data.

Rohdichte 2.810 kg/m³

Druckfestigkeit 166,0 MPa

Biegezugfestigkeit 23,9 MPa

Wasseraufnahme 0,15 %

Finishes

Palissandro Classico is available in a range of finishes. The finish affects appearance, feel and the care it needs.

Polished

Polishing is the most classic finish for marble and limestone — a glossy surface with the highest possible colour intensity and a pronounced depth to the veining. Depending on the mineral composition, the effect can be matte-gloss in places. Acid-sensitive — wine, lemon and vinegar leave etch marks after prolonged contact.

Care & fabrication

Cleaning. Day to day, warm water, a soft cloth or a clean mop and a pH-neutral natural stone cleaner are enough. Suitable are mild all-purpose cleaners with no acid content and mild washing-up foam. Take up spilled liquids promptly – the material is acid-sensitive, and every drop of vinegar, wine, lemon, tomato or cola can leave an etch mark on the material surface.

Do not use. Acidic cleaners of any kind – limescale removers (vinegar, citric acid, formic acid), sanitary cleaners with an acid content, WC cleaners, wheel cleaners, oven sprays. Diluted acids too etch calcite marble immediately and leave matt spots that can only be remedied by professional re-polishing. Aggressive scouring sponges or abrasive pastes are likewise taboo.

Impregnation. Recommended for all applications with a risk of water or soiling – bathroom, kitchen, entrance area. A premium impregnation with a stone protector on a silane/siloxane basis protects against grease, oil and water stains and reduces the visibility of drip marks on pale marble surfaces, but cannot remove the acid sensitivity. The impregnation should be refreshed regularly (every 2 – 5 years depending on loading).

Bathroom. The classic application – the strength of this grade. Usable as a wall and floor surface, vanity unit and shower – with proper waterproofing in accordance with DIN 18534 and a premium impregnation. Attention: anti-limescale sprays and bathroom cleaners with an acid content must be avoided without fail, because they etch the calcite surface matt immediately.

Kitchen. Recommended with restrictions. Wine, vinegar, lemon, tomato juice and cola leave immediately visible etch marks on the material surface. Anyone who wants to minimise acid marks should choose a matter surface finish with a premium impregnation. Bookmatching and statement applications. Palissandro Classico is outstandingly suited to bookmatching adjacent slab pieces – the banding structure, directional on one side, produces impressive V, X or quad bookmatch patterns with a symmetrical play of lines. We recommend planning the slab layout before laying with our stone technology service.

Floor and stairs. Classic application. With its above-average compressive strength (165 – 167 MPa) and low water absorption (0.15 %), Palissandro is structurally fully load-bearing for heavily used entrance areas and staircases. For floor applications we recommend a matter surface finish with a premium impregnation.

Outdoors. Suitable with reservations. With a matter surface finish and careful laying with good drainage, Palissandro can be used outdoors – but we recommend the application under a canopy or loggia. A polished exterior application loses its gloss within a few years in a Central European climate through precipitation and freeze-thaw cycles. Frost resistance is not officially documented.

Scratches and repair. In the case of matt spots, etch marks or light scratches on the polished surface, a specialised stonemasonry or joint-technology firm can locally re-polish the slab with diamond pastes. Deeper mechanical damage can in part be concealed with pigmented calcite-based repair mortars.

Frequently asked questions

What kind of material is Palissandro Classico?

Petrographically a genuine metamorphic marble – a metamorphically recrystallised carbonate rock, formed from originally sedimentary Palaeozoic limestones through Alpine metamorphism during Alpine mountain building. The deposit lies in the Ossola valley (Valle Ossola) around Crevoladossola and Domodossola in the province of Verbano-Cusio-Ossola, Piedmont, northern Italy. DNSA entry #6493.

What does the name “Palissandro” refer to?

“Palissandro” is Italian for rosewood and points to the characteristic banding structure of this marble family, which looks like the grain of wood – the fine linear bands recall the grain of rosewood. The addition “Classico” marks the classic, powerfully banded grade within the family. Related tonal variants are Palissandro Bianco/White, Palissandro Bluette and Palissandro Brown/Marrone.

What exactly does Palissandro Classico look like?

A classic pale building stone white through to a pale grey-creamy beige as the ground tone, run through by characteristic linear banding structures with subtle warm golden and ochre accent veins. The banding is, as is typical of the material, directional on one side (a linear foliation structure) – which makes the stone particularly impressive for bookmatching. In more dramatic batch variants, more powerful grey, blue-grey and brown bands appear.

What technical values does Palissandro Classico have?

DNSA values (#6493) and SC: bulk density 2,810 kg/m³ (above average for marble), compressive strength 165 – 167 MPa, flexural strength 18 – 30 MPa (a wide range depending on the direction of the banding), water absorption 0.15 %, Mohs hardness around 3 – 4 (calcite). This places the stone in the most stable range of the marble family. Acid-sensitive (calcitic). Frost resistance not officially documented.

Is Palissandro Classico suitable for bookmatched laying?

Yes, outstandingly so. The linear banding structure, directional on one side, can be composed by mirroring adjacent slab pieces into impressive V, X or quad bookmatch patterns – on large wall surfaces in particular, this produces dramatic symmetrical mirrorings with the effect of wood grain. We recommend planning the slab layout before laying with our stone technology service.

Is Palissandro Classico suitable for kitchen worktops?

With restrictions. Wine, vinegar, lemon, tomato juice and cola leave immediately visible etch marks on the material surface. Anyone who wants the elegant Italian Palissandro look in the kitchen should choose a matter surface finish with a premium impregnation. For an acid-resistant kitchen worktop with a similar banded look we recommend switching to a quartzite or a porcelain (e.g. ABK Atlantis Smoke).

Which cleaners may I use?

Permitted are warm water, all pH-neutral stone and all-purpose cleaners and mild washing-up foam. Taboo are all acidic cleaners – limescale removers, anti-limescale sprays with an acid content, WC cleaners, wheel cleaners, oven sprays. Diluted vinegar or lemon juice too leaves matt etch spots immediately, which can only be remedied by professional re-polishing.

Palissandro Classico or Palissandro Bluette?

Both are grades from the same Palissandro family from the Ossola valley with an identical care profile. Palissandro Classico is the powerful, animated grade with warm golden and brown accents; Palissandro Bluette is paler and with a bluish grey tonality, calmer and more elegant. The choice is a matter of style between a warm, animated effect (Classico) and a cool, elegant effect (Bluette).

What does Palissandro Classico cost?

The price depends on the batch, thickness, surface finish and fabrication — with natural stone there is no serious flat rate per square metre. Business customers see prices once their B2B account is activated; private customers receive a complete quote through a fabricator near them.