The Enduring Legacy and Modern Exploitation of Rome’s Travertine Quarries

For over two millennia, the travertine quarries near Tivoli, Italy, have supplied the distinctive stone that built the greatest monuments of ancient Rome—from the Colosseum to St. Peter’s Basilica. This porous, resilient rock formed in sulfur-rich springs is more than a mere building material; it embodies an enduring legacy of Roman engineering and cultural might.Yet today, these same quarries are harnessed not only for European heritage but for modern projects spanning continents—temples on Manhattan’s Upper West Side, airports in Riyadh, government headquarters in China—projects often far removed from American soil and interests.Is America Missing Its Own Opportunity Amid Foreign Growth?The...