Travertin Iberico (also Travertino Iberico, Travertino Macael Madera, Madera Travertine, Travertino Oro or Travertino Amarillo) is a classic Spanish travertine from the Macael quarry district near Almería in Andalusia — warm golden yellow to amber-coloured in its overall effect with a characteristically wood-grain-like bedding, which has earned it the byname “Madera” (timber) in Spain. Polishable, frost-resistant given proper filling and sealing — used for wall claddings, floor surfaces, staircases, pool surrounds, façade claddings and Mediterranean interior and exterior architecture with a warm natural dimension-stone atmosphere.
Other trade names: Iberico Travertine, Madeira, Madera Travertine, RO-03-004, Travertino Albox, Travertino Amarillo, Travertino Iberico, Travertino Macael Madera, Travertino Oro
About Travertin Iberico
Travertin Iberico comes from the long-established quarrying district around Macael and Albox in the province of Almería in southern Spanish Andalusia — one of the most important natural dimension-stone regions of the Iberian Peninsula, which has supplied marble and travertine continuously since Roman antiquity. Geologically it is a Quaternary to late Neogene freshwater travertine that formed through the precipitation of calcium carbonate from lime-bearing spring waters in hot freshwater springs. During the precipitation process, plant remains, trapped gases and micro-organisms produced the typical elongated cavities and horizontal bedding that distinguish travertine from other carbonate rocks — in Travertin Iberico these are particularly pronounced in a flowing, wood-grain-like banding that has earned it the Spanish byname “Travertino Madera” (timber travertine).
The colouring moves within the warm spectrum from a soft golden yellow through a rich honey yellow to amber tones, run through with somewhat darker oxidic bands and occasional lighter cream-coloured passages. This natural banding lends every slab its own lively figure — with directional laying, a flowing warm overall surface emerges that distantly recalls fine timbers. The open pores typical of travertine are usually filled with polyester resin during fabrication, which produces a homogeneous, smooth surface — alternatively the stone is supplied as “natural”, that is, open-pored, which creates a markedly more rustic and tactilely appealing look. The filling is mostly done colour-transparent or lightly honey-tinted, so that the natural shade is not impaired.
Technically, Travertin Iberico shows the typical values of high-quality freshwater travertines: bulk density around 2440 kg/m³, compressive strength about 65 MPa, flexural strength of 12.4 MPa and water absorption of 1.7 to just under 1.9 %. The comparatively high water absorption — typical of travertine and markedly above that of marble or granite — makes proper filling and sealing obligatory, especially in external applications. Given correct fabrication, Travertin Iberico is frost-proof in Central European climate conditions and stable against the weather over decades; without sealing, penetrating water can lead to spalling in the micropores during freeze-thaw cycles. Like all carbonate rocks, Travertin Iberico too is acid-sensitive and reacts to citric acid, vinegar or acidic cleaners with matt etching.
In interior fit-out, Travertin Iberico has been a proven choice for decades for Mediterranean, Andalusian-rustic, classic and currently also restrained modern architecture — the warm golden tonality sets itself off pleasantly against cool wall colours and matt metal accents and creates immediate atmospheric warmth. Classic applications are floor tiles in living and entrance areas, wall claddings in bathrooms and spa facilities, stair treads, skirtings, window sills and fireplace surrounds. Outdoors it finds use as a pool surround, terrace covering, plinth slabs and façade cladding — the warm golden shade is particularly impressive under southern light and harmonises with vegetation, timber structures and a Mediterranean architectural language. The finishes available from stock are listed in the »Finishes« block further down.
In stock
Current availability from our warehouse.
1 slab in stock · plus 1 block
Thicknesses: 2 cm · Finishes: Filled + polished · Available as: 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.
Travertin Iberico 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
Travertin Iberico is a high-quality natural stone which, because of its carbonate composition, is acid-sensitive and which, because of its water absorption of 1.7 to 1.9 %, must be sealed consistently outdoors. Indoors, use only warm water with a pH-neutral stone cleaning product for daily cleaning — acidic household cleaners, vinegar, citric acid descalers or abrasive sponges cause matt etched patches that can only be repaired by professional repolishing. Take up spilt acidic liquids promptly with clear water. A professional sealer after laying, and then every 1 to 2 years, is recommended indoors and is obligatory outdoors — it decisively reduces water absorption and thus protects against frost damage, discolouration from penetrating substances and microbial growth. With pool surrounds, besides sealing it is also important to bear chlorine-bearing splash water in mind: strong chlorine can cause local lightening, and the use of care products insensitive to salt water is to be preferred. In open-pored travertine as laid, dirt collects over time in the natural pores, which lets the appearance age in a deliberately lively way — anyone wanting a consistently even look should choose the filled version. De-icing salt in winter is to be avoided on travertine external surfaces; chloride-free de-icing agents are the better choice.
Frequently asked questions
What does the designation “Travertino Madera” or “Madera Travertine” mean?
Madera is the Spanish word for timber, and “Travertino Madera” refers to the characteristically wood-grain-like horizontal banding of Travertin Iberico — the warm golden tonality in combination with flowing bands recalls fine timbers visually. It is a purely descriptive design designation for one and the same material — Travertin Iberico, Travertino Iberico, Travertino Macael Madera and Madera Travertine are trade name synonyms for the Spanish travertine from the Macael quarry district.
Is Travertin Iberico suitable for external use?
Yes, with one important reservation: the water absorption of 1.7 to 1.9 % requires consistent sealing in order to ensure long-term frost resistance. Given proper filling and regular sealing, Travertin Iberico is frost-proof in Central European climate conditions and stable against the weather over decades. It is used for pool surrounds, terrace coverings, stair treads, plinth slabs and façade claddings. On external surfaces that are walked on, a matt, textured surface finish is to be chosen.
What is the difference between filled and open-pored travertine?
Travertine has open pores by nature, which in the fabrication process can either be filled with polyester resin or left open. Filled travertine shows a closed, smooth surface, is easier to care for and is the standard choice in internal applications with a demand for comfort. Open-pored travertine retains its rustic character but collects dirt in the pores over time — it is a stylistic decision for Mediterranean, antiquing architectural schemes and historic restorations. Both versions are technically equivalent and are supplied by ROSSITTIS on request.
Is Travertin Iberico suitable for kitchen worktops?
Possible, but with reservations. The acid sensitivity to lemon juice, vinegar, wine and cola leads to matt etched patches on contact. Anyone who accepts the livelily ageing travertine character with its natural formation of patina as a design value gets a characterful work surface; anyone wanting permanently stain-free surfaces should choose acid-insensitive hard rocks such as granite or quartzite. In addition, the water absorption is higher than with dense stones — a high-quality sealer and the immediate taking-up of pigment carriers (red wine, coffee, olive oil) is required.
Which slab formats are usual for Travertin Iberico?
Standard large formats from Spain typically lie between 250 × 130 cm and 300 × 160 cm in thicknesses of 2 cm and 3 cm. Special thicknesses (1 cm for lightweight wall claddings, 4 cm and above for stairs) as well as tile formats for floor surfaces can also be sourced through ROSSITTIS. For specific dimensions please enquire directly — as a standard Spanish travertine, Travertin Iberico is regularly available on the Central European market.
Which region does Travertin Iberico come from?
Travertin Iberico is won in the province of Almería in Andalusia (southern Spain) — more precisely in the quarrying district around Macael and Albox, which is also known for Macael marble and other Andalusian natural dimension stones. Since Roman antiquity the region has been among the most important quarrying regions of the Iberian Peninsula.
What does Travertin Iberico 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.
