(Thanks to Thomas Reichart)

The lava stone a time like today, was employed in the etnee countries like material of construction or to pure decorative scope. Once, when still the horses were the only means through which the rock was moved  from the campaigns to the cities, the drinking troughs were constructed with this black stone that we can still find for the ways of many small villages; and still roads, walls to dry, presses. Were the "Scalpellini"  work this splendid gift of nature, skillful craftsmen who with the aid of simple instruments which the chisel, the mazzola, the subia, the scalpellino, gave shape to manufact of every kind.

A hard job theirs, popular in the eight hundred sec. and that today goes disappearing because of the technology that seems not to need more their expert hands.  But if today, the greater part of the countries of the etnea zone is studs of magnificent black stone constructions that give every part envy, is thanks to their experience and acquaintance of the material that use. Same they oed near the hollow of lavica stone, famous “the Pirrere”, in order to search the stone of good quality, that simplest work for the decorations, or that most resistant  for the constructions.

The scalpellini more skillful came from the zones of Milo, Randazzo, Trecastagni, Paternò, where the lava taps always have been followed in the course of the centuries. We hope never does not have the end of the art to work the lava stone manually, hard job yes, but that gives us the beautiful manufact and originates, models by the hands of a man entire.

The main example of use of lava rock can be found in the city of Catania