Travertine is a form of limestone deposited by mineral springs, notable for the natural pitting and banding left by gas bubbles and organic matter as it forms, which architects either fill for a smooth finish or leave exposed for texture. The ancient Romans quarried it extensively near Tivoli for major structures including the Colosseum, and its warm cream to tan coloring and relative ease of working have kept it in continuous use through the twentieth century for cladding, paving and interior finishes on buildings from Rome's EUR district to countless modern civic and commercial lobbies.
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The outer wall and main structural piers are built of travertine limestone blocks quarried near Tivoli.
Louis Kahn faced the museum in warm travertine both outside and in, paired with his signature vaulted concrete roof.
Maderno faced the facade and the great colonnades in travertine, the same stone used across Romes major monuments.
Sources
Wikipedia
Wikimedia FoundationWikipedia: Travertine, introductory paragraph, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TravertineQuote, Wikipedia: Travertine, introductory paragraph, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Travertine
Travertine is a form of fresh water limestone deposited around mineral springs, especially hot springs.
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