The ancient origins of pietra pece

Pietra pece is a particular type of rock used in the architectural context of the Hyblaean Baroque, mainly as a building material in the construction of palaces and churches.
Also called pietra-oro (gold-stone), pietra pece is a chalky sedimentary rock that dates back to the Cenozoic Era. Its black colour is given by the amount of bitumen in it. It is a very resistant stone suited to damp places.