Travertin Giallo Persia (also Maku Travertin, Maku Travertine, Giallo Persiano or Yellow Travertine Maku) is a classic Iranian travertine from the Maku quarry area in the province of West Azerbaijan — with an intensely golden-yellow to amber base tone and a pronounced horizontal travertine banded structure in vein cut. Filled and polished for maximum depth — used for prestigious wall claddings, accent walls, floor areas, staircases, pool surrounds, column claddings and Mediterranean, orientally inspired interior and exterior architecture with a strong golden-yellow statement appearance.
Travertin Giallo Persia comes from the quarry area around the town of Maku in the province of West Azerbaijan (Azarbayjan-e Gharbi) in the far north-west of Iran, near the Turkish-Armenian border. Since the 1970s the region has been among the world's most important travertine suppliers and has earned a firm place in international architecture, particularly with its characteristic warm golden-yellow travertine variety. The Italian trade name “Giallo Persia” or “Giallo Persiano” refers to the intense golden-yellow colouring of this Persian travertine and follows an Italian marketing tradition — many Iranian natural stones are marketed internationally under Italianate trade names, because the Italian stone industry has historically been the largest fabricator and distributor of Iranian travertines.
Geologically it is a Quaternary freshwater travertine, formed by the slow precipitation of calcium carbonate from supersaturated warm mineral springs. The intense golden-yellow tonality derives from iron-oxide-bearing components introduced into the carbonate rock during travertine formation — the result is an exceptionally warm, almost amber material signature that is particularly impressive under southern light. During the precipitation process, plant remains, trapped gases and micro-organisms produced the typical elongated cavities and layered bedding that become visible in the vein cut as strikingly horizontal banded structures. The DNSA entry (#5926) documents the material under the parallel trade names Maku Travertin, Giallo Persiano and Yellow Travertine.
Visually, Travertin Giallo Persia is defined by an exceptionally warm, luminous, almost amber character with a pronounced horizontal banded structure. The intense golden-yellow tonality is dynamically articulated by lighter cream-coloured bands and occasional darker ochre accents — the colouring moves within the warm spectrum from rich honey yellow through amber to lighter cream-yellow, golden areas. The linear stripes create an architecturally strict, directional slab appearance that works particularly effectively in Mediterranean, orientally inspired and classically golden design concepts. The surface finishes available in stock are listed in the »Finishes« block further down. With book-matched laying — mirror-image laying of adjacent slabs — the linearly striped slabs produce especially impressive, symmetrical large-scale patterns.
Technically, Travertin Giallo Persia is among the high-grade Iranian travertines with the properties typical of travertine: medium compressive strength, medium to low water absorption, frost resistance given proper filling and impregnation. The technical properties of Iranian travertines are confirmed by decades of proven performance in international construction. Like all carbonate rocks, Travertin Giallo Persia is acid-sensitive and reacts to citric acid, vinegar or acidic cleaners with matt etching — this sensitivity must be taken into account in bathrooms, kitchens and external surfaces with pronounced acidic precipitation exposure, and calls for proper impregnation.
In interior fit-out, Travertin Giallo Persia is a spectacular choice for Mediterranean, orientally inspired, prestigious-classical and warm golden architectural concepts. Classic applications are large-area wall claddings with horizontal vein alignment — the intense yellow bands form a breathtaking, almost wallpaper-like structure that fills the room with a warm golden atmosphere. Further applications are floor areas in entrance halls and reception areas, stair treads, skirtings, window sills, bar counters, hotel lobby claddings and column surrounds. The intense golden-yellow tonality harmonises with dark brown timber fittings, with brass, bronze and gold accents, with restrained black and with warm cream-coloured wall paints — a stone that unfolds its full effect in prestigious, opulently oriental interiors. Outdoors it is used as façade cladding, pool surrounds under roof, column claddings and entrance areas — the warm golden tone is particularly impressive under southern light and harmonises with Mediterranean vegetation and architecture.
In stock
Current availability from our warehouse.
68 slabs in stock · plus 5 blocks
Thicknesses: 2 & 3 cm · Finishes: Filled + polished · Available as: Slabs
Travertin Giallo Persia is available in a range of finishes. The finish affects appearance, feel and the care it needs.
Filled + polished
Natural pores and cavities are filled with a special filler compound and thus closed — the surface is then polished. The highest possible colour intensity and gloss; depending on the mineral composition, the material can at most be polished to a semi-gloss. Easier to care for than the unfilled variant.
Care & fabrication
As a carbonate rock, Travertin Giallo Persia is acid-sensitive and should be cared for with attention. Indoors, use exclusively warm water with a pH-neutral stone cleaning agent — acidic household cleaners, vinegar, citric acid descalers or other acidic substances cause matt etched patches that can only be reversed by professional re-polishing or re-honing. Take up spilt acidic liquids promptly with clear water. A professional impregnation after installation and every 1 to 2 years thereafter is recommended indoors and obligatory outdoors — it reduces water absorption decisively, protects against freeze-thaw damage and mitigates the absorption of pigments (red wine, coffee, olive oil). With the unfilled variant, dirt collects over time in the natural pores, which lets the appearance age in a deliberately lively way — anyone who wants a consistently even appearance should choose the filled variant. On pool surrounds, alongside impregnation it is important to watch for chlorinated splash water: strong chlorine can cause local lightening of the golden-yellow tone, and salt-water-insensitive care products are to be preferred. Road salt in winter must be strictly avoided on travertine external surfaces — chloride-free de-icing agents are the gentler alternative.
Frequently asked questions
What does the designation “Giallo Persia” / “Giallo Persiano” mean?
“Giallo Persiano” is Italian for “Persian yellow” and denotes the intense golden-yellow tonality of this Iranian travertine. The Italianate trade designation results from the historical marketing of Iranian travertines through the Italian stone industry, which brings the stone to European and international markets. Travertin Giallo Persia, Maku Travertin, Maku Travertine, Giallo Persiano and Yellow Travertine are synonymous trade names for one and the same material variety from the Maku quarry area in West Azerbaijan in Iran.
Where does the intense golden-yellow colour come from?
The warm golden tonality of Travertin Giallo Persia arises from iron-oxide-bearing mineral components introduced into the precipitated carbonate rock during travertine formation from supersaturated warm mineral springs. Iron oxides and hydroxides are nature's most important colouring agents for yellow, orange and red shades and occur in many warm natural stones. The intense colouring of Giallo Persia is exceptionally even and strong, which distinguishes the material from lighter or less strongly golden travertines.
Is Travertin Giallo Persia suitable for wall claddings?
Outstandingly. The pronounced horizontal banded structure and the intense golden-yellow tonality make Travertin Giallo Persia one of the most spectacular choices for large-area wall claddings in prestigious interiors. With continuous horizontal vein alignment, a breathtaking, almost wallpaper-like wall structure arises — with book-matched laying (mirror-image laying of adjacent slabs), especially impressive symmetrical large-scale patterns emerge. Classic applications are hotel lobbies, entrance areas, back walls behind bar counters, bathroom accent walls and prestigious living room accent walls.
Is Travertin Giallo Persia suitable for exterior applications?
Yes, with consistent impregnation. Iranian travertines are in principle frost-resistant in Central European climatic conditions, provided they are properly impregnated. The stone is used for pool surrounds under roof, plinth slabs, stairs under a canopy and façade claddings. For openly weathered horizontal external surfaces with pronounced freeze-thaw cycles and road salt exposure, denser hard rocks (granite, quartzite) are the more robust alternative. On external surfaces that will be walked on, a matt, textured surface finish should be chosen.
Is Travertin Giallo Persia suitable for kitchen worktops?
Possible, but with reservations. Its acid sensitivity to lemon juice, vinegar, wine and cola, together with its open pore structure, makes the stone less suitable for intensively used family kitchens. Anyone who accepts the characterfully ageing travertine aspect with its natural formation of patina as a design value gets a warm working surface that ages in a lively way; anyone who wants a stain-free surface should prefer acid-insensitive hard rocks such as granite or quartzite, or a corresponding quartz material.
Which slab formats are usual for Travertin Giallo Persia?
Standard large formats from the Iranian quarries typically lie between 250 × 130 cm and 290 × 160 cm in thicknesses of 2 cm and 3 cm. Through ROSSITTIS, thinner formats can also be sourced (1 cm and 1.2 cm for lightweight wall claddings) as well as skirtings, terrace slabs and tile formats. For specific dimensions please enquire directly — as a high-grade Iranian statement travertine, Travertin Giallo Persia is regularly in stock at ROSSITTIS.
What does Travertin Giallo Persia 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.
