ITALIAN SLATE

Introduction

Over the last centuries, slate has deeply characterized the internal and external spaces where it is used because slate is for functional purposes, but moreover it is an extremely decorative and ornamental material.

The chromatic sobriety, the charming and warm texture  of this material have made a lot of Ligurian and European towns famous all over the world.

For instance we can mention Paris, a lot of villages in Normandy, Savoy, Wales, Belgium and Bavaria.

There are many beautiful towns, well known all over the world, where slate is the most used component in building and furnishing: Portofino, San Fruttuoso or Camogli for example are some of many Ligurian fishing villages where the slate coverings match perfectly with the beautiful colourful façades and the lush vegetation.

In Genoa historical centre we find slate anywhere: the most exposed walls of many buildings are covered with this material, the roofs, sumptuous staircases in patrician palaces and Palazzo Ducale or Carlo Felice Theatre where, for instance, it’s impossible to find a room where slate is not used.

We absolutely have to mention also Cinque Terre where slate becomes part of the landscape and  its grey colour blends harmoniously with the deep blues and greens of this amazing part of Liguria.

We can appreciate the chromatic quality of slate from aerial views of urban and rural areas where slate forms a perfect and refined whole with the surrounding nature whose beauty inspired artists and poets such as Shelley, Byron and Ruskin.

Besides roofing coverings, slate can be used also for furnishing, components in buildings, floors , cladding and most of all it is used for producing billiard tables.

Italian slate provides the smoothest playing surface, the truest roll, the best elasticity and strength: it is simply the optimum playing surface for billiard tables.

Over the last years other materials have attempted to claim a place in the billiard industry because of their low prices, but no other slate on earth can offer the value and the quality of the Italian Slate.