Rosavel is a classic Carboniferous Spanish granite from Padrenda in the province of Ourense (Galicia) with a coarse-grained isotropic mineral texture, a warm cream-pink overall effect, large feldspar phenocrysts and black biotite speckles. Also traded as Rosa Patrizia or Rosa Vel Grueso — frost-resistant, acid-resistant, very frequently used in Germany for floor areas, stairs, façades, exterior paving and prestigious architectural applications.
Other trade names: Baltic Beige, Marron Clair, Ourense Pink Granite, RO-01-047, Rosa Patrizia, Rosa Vel Grueso, Rosabel
About Rosavel
Rosavel is one of the most tradition-rich Spanish natural dimension stones on the European market — a Carboniferous granite from Padrenda in the province of Ourense (Galician: Orense) in the north-west of Spain. The Galician granite region is among the largest granite extraction regions in Europe, with a tradition going back to Roman antiquity. Characteristic is a coarse-grained isotropic (non-directional) mineral texture with large pink to cream-coloured potassium feldspar phenocrysts embedded in a matrix of white plagioclase, transparent quartz and black biotite — the striking grain size and the calm, unordered mineral pattern are the identifying feature of Galician granites. On the market the material also runs under the designations Rosa Patrizia (an Italian trade version emphasising the pink tones), Rosa Vel Grueso and Ourense Pink Granite. At ROSSITTIS we carry Rosavel for floor areas, staircases, façade claddings, exterior paving, plinth details, pool surrounds, fountain surrounds, wall claddings, kitchen worktops and project-specific bespoke work.
Geologically, Rosavel is a Carboniferous (about 300 million years old) igneous plutonic granite from the Galician granite complex — one of the great Variscan pluton bodies in the north-west of the Iberian peninsula. The material counts as frequently used in Germany — Rosavel is among the classic Iberian dimension stones with a long tradition in German exterior construction. The typical grain size of Galician granites arises through very slow solidification of the magma at greater depth; the phenocryst structure (large feldspar crystals in a finer matrix) is a characteristic feature of porphyritic granites. An important clarification: an erroneous limestone classification circulates in part on the market — the correct and binding designation is granite.
The following technical values are documented: bulk density 2,650 kg/m³, compressive strength 63 MPa (relatively low for a granite, characteristic of Galician granites with a high feldspar content and mild alteration), flexural strength 17.5 MPa, water absorption 0.7 per cent. Frost-resistant and acid-resistant; the polish is durable outdoors as well. With the somewhat higher water absorption of 0.7 per cent (compared with typical hard rocks below 0.5 per cent), Rosavel is more sensitive to road salt and strongly colouring substances — a careful impregnation is therefore more important than with denser granite grades. Compared with classic Finnish red granites such as Rosso Balmoral, Rosavel is coarser-grained with a warm cream-pink effect; compared with Chinese pink granite grades such as Padang TG48 Rosa Beta, the ground colour is lighter and creamier and the mineral texture considerably coarser.
At ROSSITTIS, Rosavel is available as a raw slab (random-size slab), as a floor tile, as tread and riser, as a window sill, as a skirting, as a paving stone, as a façade element, as a pool surround and as a project-specific cut to size; likewise as a kitchen worktop. The surface finishes available from stock are listed in the »Finishes« block further down.
Our honest assessment: Rosavel is a very coherent choice for projects looking for a classic Mediterranean granite with a warm creamy ground colour, large feldspar crystals and a long Iberian tradition of building in stone. The combination of a warm pink effect, a coarse-grained mineral texture and confirmed frost resistance makes the material particularly interesting for exterior paving, stairs, façades and Mediterranean architectural concepts. The somewhat lower compressive strength (63 MPa) and higher water absorption (0.7 %) mean that Rosavel is more sensitive than typical hard rocks — a reliable impregnation is recommended, especially outdoors with road salt contact.
In stock
Current availability from our warehouse.
14 slabs in stock · plus 4 blocks
Thicknesses: 2 & 4 cm · Finishes: Polished · Available as: Slabs
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.
Rosavel is available in a range of finishes. The finish affects appearance, feel and the care it needs.
Polished
Polishing is the most classic finish in the hard stone segment — a mirror-smooth, high-gloss surface with the highest possible colour intensity and maximum depth effect in the mineral structure. As an acid-resistant silicate stone, polished granite is easy to care for and the first choice for kitchen worktops, wall claddings and prestigious exposed surfaces.
Care & fabrication
As a Spanish granite, Rosavel can be cared for over the long term and cleaned without difficulty. An impregnation on a silane or polysiloxane basis after laying is particularly important — the water absorption of 0.7 per cent lies in the upper range for granite, so that protection against strongly colouring substances such as red wine, coffee, oil and tomato sauce is especially worthwhile. Daily cleaning with a pH-neutral natural stone cleaner and a soft microfibre cloth or mop; clean water alone is almost always enough for daily care. Avoid strongly alkaline deep cleaners, acidic agents such as vinegar or lemon cleaners and abrasive scouring pads. Outdoors Rosavel is frost-resistant — because of the somewhat higher water absorption we recommend, where there is road salt loading, a thorough rinse in spring and a reliable refreshing of the impregnation. We recommend refreshing the impregnation every three to five years, and outdoors with road salt loading tendentially more often.
Frequently asked questions
Which other designations does Rosavel carry?
On the market the material runs under Rosavel (the principal designation), Rosa Patrizia (an Italian trade version emphasising the pink tones), Rosa Vel Grueso and Ourense Pink Granite. All designations refer to the same Galician granite from Padrenda. Note: an erroneous limestone classification circulates in part on the market — the granite classification is the correct one.
Where is Rosavel quarried?
Rosavel comes from the quarry regions around Padrenda in the province of Ourense (Galician: Orense) in Galicia in the north-west of Spain — one of the largest granite extraction regions in Europe, with a tradition going back to Roman antiquity.
What technical values does Rosavel have?
The following characteristic values are documented: bulk density 2,650 kg/m³, compressive strength 63 MPa (characteristically lower for Galician granites with a high feldspar content), flexural strength 17.5 MPa, water absorption 0.7 per cent. Frost-resistant, acid-resistant and with an exterior surface that permanently takes a polish.
What are phenocrysts?
Phenocrysts are particularly large mineral crystals embedded in a finer-grained ground matrix — in Rosavel the large pink-cream potassium feldspar crystals that shape the characteristic porphyritic slab pattern. They arise through early crystallisation during the cooling of the magma.
Which surface finishes are there for Rosavel?
The surface finishes available from stock are listed in the »Finishes« block on this page.
Is Rosavel suitable for kitchen worktops?
Yes, with a restriction. As a Spanish granite, Rosavel is acid-resistant and robust in everyday use — wine, lemon juice or vinegar leave no etch marks. Because of the somewhat higher water absorption of 0.7 per cent, however, a careful impregnation is important in order to keep strongly colouring substances at bay. For classic main worktops in heavily used kitchens, denser granite grades with a water absorption below 0.5 per cent are the more robust choice.
Is Rosavel frost-resistant?
Yes. Rosavel has been proven for decades as a German exterior construction granite. Where there is direct road salt loading we recommend, because of the higher water absorption, a reliable impregnation and a thorough rinsing off of road salt residues in spring.
What does Rosavel 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.
