Sandstone

Santa Fiora Venata

Santa Fiora Venata (also Santafiora Venata) is a classic Tertiary sandstone from Manciano in the province of Grosseto, Tuscany, with a warm grey-beige ground tone and a subtle 'clouded' sedimentary vein pattern. The trade name 'Venata' means 'veined'. Also traded internationally as Santafiora and Pietra de Manciano; used for wall cladding, external façades, wall facings, fountain surrounds and prestige interior and exterior surfaces with a warm Tuscan feel.

Sandstone Italy Frostbeständig 2.450 kg/m³

Available as: Slabs

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About Santa Fiora Venata

Santa Fiora Venata lives on a warm Tuscan sandstone material effect with a subtle sedimentary vein structure. The ground tone is a warm grey-beige to nougat-brown sandstone with subtle lighter creamy lines of light that run across the slab surface like soft flowing traces — the trade name 'Venata' (Italian for 'veined') describes this fine figuring precisely. The mineral distribution is 'largely without direction' (DNSA quotation) — not a strictly geometric striping but a quietly organic clouded feel, characteristic of Tertiary Tuscan sandstones. On a worked surface the stone reads like a cross-sectional visualisation of primeval sand sedimentation from the Tuscan Tertiary — natural, warm and authentically Mediterranean.

Geologically, Santa Fiora Venata is a Tertiary sandstone from the quarries around Manciano in the province of Grosseto in southern Tuscany — DNSA-confirmed under entry #1915 (SANTAFIORA, sandstone, Manciano/Grosseto, Tertiary). Sandstones form through the consolidation of quartz sand deposits under pressure and with binder components. In Santa Fiora Venata these binders are typically Mediterranean (siliceous and partly calcareous). The stone is quarried in Italy by Santafiora S.r.l. In international trade the material runs under several synonyms: Santa Fiora Venata, Santafiora Venata, Santafiora Venata Toscana, Pietra Santafiora Venata Toscana, SANTAFIORA and Pietra de Manciano. At ROSSITTIS we classify Santa Fiora Venata as a true sandstone. Important: there is a distinct variant called Santafiora Ostrea (DNSA #3587) — a calcareous, fossiliferous sandstone from the same quarry region with shellfish inclusions, which is not identical to the Venata variant. Tuscany is one of the most tradition-rich natural stone regions of Europe — related materials such as Pietra Dorata Toscana (the same Manciano region, with a golden ground tone instead of grey-beige) also come from this region.

Technically, Santa Fiora Venata shows the typical values of a Mediterranean Tertiary sandstone. Bulk density is 2,450 kg/m³ (typical of moderately porous Mediterranean sandstones), compressive strength 88-89 MPa, flexural strength 12.6 MPa and water absorption a moderate 1.53 %. Mohs hardness lies in the 4-6 range typical of sandstones. DNSA confirms frost resistance, but explicitly flags the acid sensitivity — that is an important qualification, because many other sandstones are as a rule acid-resistant. With Santa Fiora Venata, strongly acidic cleaners or food acids (wine, lemon, vinegar) can attack the calcareous binder components over time — caution is required, above all with kitchen worktops or bar counters.

At ROSSITTIS we carry Santa Fiora Venata as an unsized slab for wall cladding, external façades, wall facings, fountain surrounds, fireplace surrounds and prestige interior surfaces, in tiles for wall applications, and for window sills and project-specific cutting. The typical application is the Tuscan house façade or courtyard wall — Santa Fiora Venata is a classic Tuscan material with a tradition proven over centuries. The surface finishes currently held in stock are listed in the »Finishes« block further down.

Compared with Pietra Dorata Toscana (the same Manciano region, but with a golden-yellow ground tone), Santa Fiora Venata brings a cooler grey-beige ground tone with more subtle vein bands — an alternative Tuscan variant for architects looking for a less golden, more neutral sandstone character. Compared with Chinese wood sandstones such as Tobacco, Santa Fiora Venata brings Italian provenance and Mediterranean tradition. For architectural projects with a Tuscan or Mediterranean ambition — Italian country houses, Tuscan-style architecture, Mediterranean courtyards, spa areas with a warm southern character, fountains and wall facings with a traditional ambition — Santa Fiora Venata is a deeply rooted and culturally authentic choice within the Italian sandstone range.

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 2.450 kg/m³

Druckfestigkeit 89,0 MPa

Biegezugfestigkeit 12,6 MPa

Wasseraufnahme 1,53 %

Frostbeständig Ja

Säurebeständig Nein

Suitability by application

Suitable with limitations

Küche & Arbeitsplatten △ Limited

Finishes

Santa Fiora Venata is available in a range of finishes. The finish affects appearance, feel and the care it needs.

Sandgestrahlt

Die Oberfläche wird mit Hochdruck und Quarzsand bestrahlt und gleichmäßig aufgeraut — die Fläche bleibt plan, fühlt sich aber rau an. Die Farbe wirkt zurückhaltender als bei polierten Varianten. Rutschhemmend und für Außenbereiche geeignet — eine charaktervolle Veredelung für mediterrane Pflasterungen und Stufen.

Care & fabrication

As an Italian Tertiary sandstone, Santa Fiora Venata is a decorative material with moderate robustness. One important qualification: DNSA explicitly flags the acid sensitivity (unlike most sandstones, which are acid-resistant within the normal range). Strongly acidic cleaners, wine, lemon juice, vinegar or acidic bathroom cleaners can attack the calcareous binder components over time and leave visible marks. DNSA does, however, confirm frost resistance for Mediterranean climate zones.

For all applications, a silane- or polysiloxane-based sealer is mandatory. Because of the high water absorption (1.53 %) and the acid sensitivity, we recommend refreshing every 1-2 years for interior applications and annually for external applications. Sealing protects against deep penetration by water, oil, grease and pigments.

Daily care is carried out with a pH-neutral natural stone cleaner and a soft cloth or microfibre mop. Consistently avoid acidic cleaners, cement haze removers, vinegar-based cleaners and strongly alkaline products — with Santa Fiora Venata this is particularly critical because of the confirmed acid sensitivity. The surface finishes currently held in stock are listed in the »Finishes« block further down.

Santa Fiora Venata is not recommended for kitchen worktops — the acid sensitivity, the high water absorption, the low hardness (Mohs hardness 4-6) and the moderate compressive strength make the material unsuitable for intensive cooking use. Wine, lemon or vinegar leave visible etch marks on the pale surface. For carefree kitchen worktops with a Mediterranean feel we recommend a warm beige granite, quartzite or engineered quartz.

For floors, Santa Fiora Venata can be used in moderately loaded interior areas (living rooms, Mediterranean courtyard surfaces with weather protection). Because of the high water absorption and acid sensitivity, not for areas with heavy moisture exposure or for kitchens.

For external applications, Santa Fiora Venata is well usable in Mediterranean climate zones or sheltered positions with consistent sealing — DNSA confirms frost resistance. For external applications with heavy frost exposure, suitability should be assessed project-specifically, particularly because of the high water absorption of 1.53 %. For external façades in Mediterranean climate zones the stone has been proven in Tuscan architecture for centuries.

Frequently asked questions

What does 'Santa Fiora Venata' mean?

Santa Fiora is the name of the Italian quarrying company (Santafiora S.r.l.) in Manciano (province of Grosseto, Tuscany). 'Venata' means 'veined' in Italian — and denotes the specific sorting variant with a subtle sedimentary vein pattern. The 'Ostrea' variant (DNSA #3587) is a different grade with calcareous, fossiliferous shellfish inclusions from the same quarry region. In the trade the material also runs under Pietra Santafiora Venata Toscana, SANTAFIORA and Pietra de Manciano.

What is Santa Fiora Venata geologically?

Santa Fiora Venata is a Tertiary sandstone from the quarries around Manciano in the province of Grosseto in southern Tuscany — DNSA-confirmed under entry #1915 (SANTAFIORA). Sandstones form through the consolidation of quartz sand deposits with binder components. In Santa Fiora Venata these binders are typically Mediterranean (siliceous and partly calcareous). Mohs hardness 4-6, frost-resistant, but DNSA flags acid sensitivity.

Is Santa Fiora Venata suitable for a kitchen worktop?

Not recommended. DNSA explicitly flags the acid sensitivity — wine, lemon, vinegar or acidic bathroom cleaners can leave visible etch marks. The high water absorption (1.53 %) and the low hardness (Mohs hardness 4-6) also make the material more prone to scratching and less suited to cooking. For carefree kitchen worktops with a Mediterranean feel we recommend a warm beige granite or quartzite.

Which finishes are available for Santa Fiora Venata?

The surface finishes currently held in stock are listed in the »Finishes« block on this page.

Is Santa Fiora Venata frost-resistant and suitable for outdoor use?

DNSA confirms frost resistance, so the stone is well usable for external applications in Mediterranean and temperate climate zones with consistent sealing — it has been proven in Tuscan architecture for centuries. Because of the high water absorption of 1.53 %, freeze-thaw resistance should be assessed project-specifically for locations with heavy frost exposure (northern Germany, the Alpine region).

Where does Santa Fiora Venata come from?

Santa Fiora Venata comes from the quarries around Manciano in the province of Grosseto in southern Tuscany — the same quarry region as Pietra Dorata Toscana. The stone is quarried by the Italian company Santafiora S.r.l. Internationally the material also runs under Santafiora Venata, Santafiora Venata Toscana, Pietra Santafiora Venata Toscana, SANTAFIORA and Pietra de Manciano.

Santa Fiora Venata or Pietra Dorata Toscana — which suits better?

Both come from the same Manciano quarry region in Tuscany, but with a different tone. Pietra Dorata Toscana ('golden stone') shows a warm honey-yellow ground tone with more pronounced sedimentary bedding — the warmer and sunnier-looking variant. Santa Fiora Venata brings a cooler grey-beige ground tone with more subtle vein bands — the more neutral and quieter variant. Both have moderate water absorption and similar technical properties. For a warm golden Tuscan feel, Pietra Dorata Toscana; for a more neutral grey-beige effect, Santa Fiora Venata.