HISTORY

Historically, the use of ceramic floor tiles goes back to the fourth millenium B.C. in the Near and far East, the romans introduced tile-making in western Europe as they occupied territories. However, that art was eventually forgotten for centuries, in fact the use of Italian tiles began in the Middle Age when the ceramic tile became a useful architectural medium for the decoration of walls and floors in religious and public buildings. In fact the roots of Italian ceramic tiles go back to the late Middle Ages, when, in the establishment of public and religious architecture, it became necessary to improve its use and design.
The Italian artisans developed from the late-Roman hexagonal fired tiles with marble inset, passing through medieval and "Islamic/Moorish" designs, to arrive at an entirely handmade, original production with patterns created for the purpose of interior decoration.
It is in the sixteenth century that the majolica-tiled floors become very popular as a newinnovative decorative element: to this period in fact belong the most important examples of majolica floors in private homes and churches.