Stone materials of the Roman villas around lake Garda (Italy)

Four Roman villas (Sirmione, Desenzano, Toscolano - lake Garda) were examined to investigate the use of stone materials. These villas were built starting from the end of 1st century BC to the beginning of 1st century AD and were inhabited for a long time. The study of stones was performed by petrographic analyses on building structures, decorative works, opera sectilia, wall veneerings, sculptures. The sources of building materials were local for building structures; many kind of stones from the hills between lake Garda and Verona were used for decorative purpose. Different coloured marbles from overseas quarries were used in Toscolano.