Rosso Asiago (also Asiago Rosso, Rosso di Asiago or Asiago Red Marble) is an Italian Jurassic building limestone from the Asiago plateau in the province of Vicenza in the Veneto, with a warm rust-red to burgundy ground tone, a characteristic nodular-brecciated structure and frequently visible fossilised ammonites. Exceptionally high-strength with a compressive strength of 162.6 MPa and an exceptionally low water absorption of 0.07 % — used for prestige wall claddings, floor areas, staircases, fireplace surrounds, bar back walls and refined interior fit-outs with a classically Italian, historical character.
Petrographically this is a Jurassic red ammonite limestone with a nodular, brecciated structure from the Asiago plateau in the province of Vicenza in the Italian Veneto. Listed in the international stone trade as marble — a convention established in Italy for centuries for polishable carbonate rocks. The warm rust-red colouring results from iron oxide components; the frequently visible ammonite fossils are an essential characteristic of the Jurassic red ammonite limestones of the Italian pre-Alps.
Limestone
Italy
2.690 kg/m³
Available as: Slabs, Skirting, Tiles and flooring slabs ·
1 of 41 reserved
Other trade names: Asiago Red, Asiago Red Marble, Asiago Rosso, RO-02-113, Red Asiago Marble, Rojo Asiago Marble, Rosso Di Asiago Marble, Rosso di Asiago
About Rosso Asiago
Rosso Asiago belongs to the family of the famous Italian Jurassic red ammonite limestones, which have counted among Italy's most significant dimension stones since antiquity. The stone is quarried on the Asiago plateau in the province of Vicenza in the Italian Veneto, a region that is among the most tradition-rich dimension stone supply regions of northern Italy and that is closely bound in cultural history to the Venetian-Vicentine stonemasonry tradition. The Asiago region borders on the neighbouring quarrying regions around Verona, from which the internationally known “Rosso Verona” comes — Rosso Asiago and Rosso Verona are related materials from the same Jurassic carbonate formation and are sometimes offered in parallel in the stone trade. In the international market the stone is traded under the synonymous trade names Rosso Asiago, Asiago Rosso, Rosso di Asiago and Asiago Red Marble.
Geologically it is a Jurassic limestone that was deposited around 180 to 160 million years ago in a shallow, warm tropical sea — the famous “Rosso Ammonitico” of the Tethys carbonate platform. The warm rust-red colouring results from iron-oxide components that were incorporated into the carbonate during sedimentation or during later diagenetic alteration. The characteristic nodular-brecciated structure arises from a combination of original sediment nodules (carbonate nodules that formed on the sea floor) and tectonic stress during Alpine mountain building. A palaeontologically particularly remarkable property of the stone are the frequently visible fossilised ammonites — they appear as round to oval, pale cross-sections with a characteristic spiral internal structure and are an essential feature of the red ammonite limestones of the Italian foothills of the Alps. The DNSA classification (#2067) documents the material precisely.
Visually, Rosso Asiago is marked by an exceptionally characterful, almost palaeontological material signature. Across a warm rust-red to burgundy ground tone, nodular-brecciated structures spread out, interspersed with white to pale grey calcite veins and occasional fossilised ammonite cross-sections. The individual nodules appear as pale to darker burgundy zones with an oval to irregular outline, separated by darker vein zones — a material signature that works like a petrified mosaic from a primeval age. The high-contrast nodular look makes every square metre unique. With bookmatched laying — mirror-image laying of adjacent slabs — particularly impressive, almost mandala-like symmetrical large-scale patterns emerge with the typical nodular structures.
Technically, Rosso Asiago is among the highest-quality Italian building limestones, with documented DNSA values: bulk density 2,690 kg/m³, compressive strength 162.6 MPa (exceptionally high and close to granite), compressive strength after freeze-thaw cycles 153.0 MPa (outstandingly frost-resistant), flexural strength 10.0 MPa, water absorption of only 0.07 % (exceptionally low). These values qualify the stone for the most demanding interior and exterior applications — the low water absorption and the high frost resistance make it one of the most robust limestone grades in existence. Like all carbonate rocks, Rosso Asiago too is acid-sensitive and reacts to citric acid, vinegar or acidic cleaners with matt etching. Polished surfaces are not stable in the long term in openly weathered exterior locations; structurally protected applications or matter surface finishes are to be preferred there.
In interior fit-out, Rosso Asiago is a characterful choice for classically Italian, Mediterranean and historicising architectural concepts. Classic applications are floor areas in entrance halls and living spaces, wall claddings, stair treads, skirtings, window sills, fireplace surrounds and bar back walls — the warm rust-red tonality creates a powerfully warm atmosphere and harmonises with dark timber fittings in walnut, mahogany or oak, with brass, bronze and gold accents, with warm earth tones and with classically Italian furniture aesthetics. In restoration projects on historical buildings, Rosso Asiago is an important material on account of its historical significance. Outdoors the stone is, thanks to its low water absorption and high freeze-thaw resistance, well suited to façade claddings, plinth details and stairs under a canopy. On account of the high mechanical values, Rosso Asiago is more robust than most other Italian Mediterranean limestones — the acid sensitivity nevertheless remains and limits openly weathered exterior applications with acidic precipitation.
In stock
Current availability from our warehouse.
41 slabs in stock — 40 available now, 1 reserved · plus 29 blocks
Thicknesses: 0.9–4 cm · Finishes: Polished, Satin-honed, Tumbled · Available as: Slabs, Skirting, Tiles and flooring 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.
Rosso Asiago 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.
Satin-honed
The surface is brushed — softer minerals are selectively removed, creating a subtle depth and a matte appearance. Strongly veined limestones in particular gain a characterful look and feel this way. The more matte finish conceals small etch marks better than a polish and stands up better to everyday use on heavily used interior surfaces.
Tumbled
Through friction with rock aggregates and water in a rotating drum, a matt surface is created with slightly chipped edges and a satin-like tactile quality. It looks naturally aged. Suitable exclusively for wall and floor tiles, not for raw slabs — the standard choice for Mediterranean and antiqued design concepts.
Care & fabrication
As a Jurassic Italian limestone, Rosso Asiago is acid-sensitive, but thanks to its exceptionally low water absorption of only 0.07 % it is one of the most robust representatives of its material class. Indoors, use exclusively warm water with a pH-neutral stone cleaning product for daily cleaning — acidic household cleaners, vinegar, citric acid descalers or other acidic substances cause matt-etched spots that can only be reversed by professional re-polishing. Take up spilled acidic liquids promptly with clear water — the low water absorption gives Rosso Asiago exceptionally much reaction time compared with softer limestones. A professional impregnation after laying and then every 2 to 3 years is recommended indoors — it reduces the take-up of pigments (red wine, coffee, olive oil). With wall claddings, regular dusting and occasional wiping with a damp cloth are enough. Outdoors, avoiding de-icing salt in winter must be observed — chloride-free de-icing agents are the gentler alternative. The surface finishes available from stock are listed in the »Finishes« block further down.
Frequently asked questions
What are the fossil structures in the slab picture?
The frequently visible round to oval, pale structures with a characteristic spiral internal structure are fossilised ammonites — cephalopods that lived in the Jurassic tropical seas of the Tethys carbonate platform 180 to 160 million years ago and were embedded in the sediment. These ammonite fossils are an essential feature of the red ammonite limestone of the Italian foothills of the Alps and give Rosso Asiago its palaeontologically valuable, almost museum-like material signature. They are not a defect but a sought-after stylistic element.
What does the nodular-brecciated structure mean?
The characteristic nodular-brecciated structure arises from a combination of original sediment nodules (carbonate nodules that formed on the sea floor) and tectonic stress during Alpine mountain building. In a polished section the individual nodules appear as pale to darker burgundy oval zones, separated by darker vein zones with calcite mineralisation. This structure is typical of red ammonite limestone and a central stylistic feature of the material.
What is the difference between Rosso Asiago and Rosso Verona?
Both come from the same Jurassic carbonate formation of the Italian foothills of the Alps and are related materials — Rosso Asiago from the Asiago plateau in the province of Vicenza, Rosso Verona from the quarries around Verona. Both show the characteristic warm rust-red tonality, the nodular-brecciated structure and the ammonite fossils. Rosso Verona is better known internationally and has been built into the historical architecture of Verona for centuries; Rosso Asiago is traded in parallel as an equivalent alternative. The choice between the two is a question of the specific quarry availability and the particular slab appearance.
Is Rosso Asiago suitable for exterior applications?
Outstandingly so. The exceptionally low water absorption of 0.07 % and the high compressive strength of 162.6 MPa (close to granite!) as well as the outstanding freeze-thaw resistance (compressive strength after freeze-thaw cycles 153 MPa) qualify Rosso Asiago for demanding exterior applications such as façade claddings, plinth details and stairs under a canopy. With proper impregnation the stone is stable against weathering over long periods in Central European climate conditions. Polished surfaces, however, are not stable in the long term in openly weathered exterior locations; a matt, textured surface finish is to be preferred there.
Is Rosso Asiago suitable for kitchen worktops?
With reservations. The acid sensitivity towards lemon juice, vinegar, wine and cola leads on contact to matt-etched spots — a property typical of limestone that cannot be prevented by impregnation. The exceptionally low water absorption of 0.07 % and the high compressive strength make Rosso Asiago mechanically markedly more robust than most other Mediterranean limestones. Anyone who accepts the characterfully ageing limestone aspect gets a powerfully Italian working surface; anyone who wants a blemish-free surface should prefer acid-insensitive hard rocks such as granite or quartzite.
Which applications are classic for Rosso Asiago?
Rosso Asiago is classically established for floor areas in entrance halls and living spaces, wall claddings, stair treads, skirtings, window sills and fireplace surrounds. In the historical Italian context the stone is also used for restoration projects on historical buildings and for sacral architecture. Bar back walls, table and console tops in prestige rooms complete the range of applications. With bookmatched laying, particularly impressive symmetrical large-scale patterns emerge with the nodular-brecciated structures.
What does Rosso Asiago 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.
