Serpentinite and Ophicalcite in the Architecture of Eastern Liguria and As Decoration of Tuscan Religious Buildings

The serpentinite is a metamorphic rock with a particular texture and colour ranging from light to dark green that was used in the Middle Ages architecture of Eastern Liguria and Central Tuscany as an element of embellishment of high value. This value was in relation to its aesthetic aspect but also to the high processing cost due to its hardness, requiring specialized workers. This research aims at broadening the knowledge related to the use of serpentinite together with that of a reddish brecciate variety of this lithotype, an ophicalcite traditionally called “Rosso di Levanto”. Conservation issues of these two materials, which are affected mainly by physical phenomena, will be highlighted.