I just love those black shiny cobblestones of Europe. Are they made of black rock? Granite? One man we met called them a funny name and now I have forgotten what it is. This was in Italy, any ideas? They are formed so perfectly like little brownies.

Trish,<BR><BR>cobbles can me made of granite, which is extremely hard wearing and they start of as cubes and only get rounded by the continuous wear of feet.<BR>They are often called setts, or cobbled setts. As for other stones, anything hard wearing would do, perhaps a basalt or something local.<BR>Hope this helps.<BR>By the way, to be more comfortable try not to wear anything with heel on cobbles.

Back in my days as a work supervisor, the worst punishment I could send one of the guys to do was replace the setts in the Dalry area of Edinburgh. Not fun. <BR><BR>The individual stones are actually quite deep - deeper than you'd think, anyway. Use a fine aggregate as a base and take your time.

Thanks, I knew those cobblestones were interesting!

Cobblestones can be different kind of stone, not necessarily granite. There are black cobblestone streets, and also grey and reddish, depends on the stone used. In some places streets are white cobblestones with patterns made of black cobblestones.

xxx-can that not be different colors of granite?

<BR><BR>See, this is why I like Fodor's.<BR>Seriously.<BR>This is interesting stuff.<BR>I just hope 1) I won't forget this, and 2) that someone asks me about cobblestones.

JT -When you come out of that bar a little late at night and in the dark, you stumble and fall, you will be happy that you know so much about that damned hard surface that your face is resting on! LOL~

<BR><BR>I happen to think it's very important to be able to accurately identify to the ambulance attendants, as you're being rushed to the hospital, the object that struck you in the face, or vice versa.

LOL~<BR>it is VERRRRY important!<BR>now you can tell them down to the last detail! but be sure at least one of them is not listening,so he won't fall asleep while driving you to hospital <BR>

I DO find it interesting. I live in the US where we have very uninteresting streets. The best we can do is some bricks in a self styled "old towns" filled with Gap stores and other chains. Most of our poor streets are asphalt or concrete at best, that is why I just love those cobblestones! And now to know they are granite even makes it better. Is it local granite?

Funny, like Trish, I like this. Anyway, somebody talked about different colours of granite. Yes, granite comes in different colours. For example in Finland some cobblestone streets are sort of red, some are black. There is also green granite, but that is very expensive and used usually in kitchens. At least in Portugal they have these beautiful white/black streets with intricate patterns.<BR><BR>The ancient trade of cobble layer (???) was already dying in Finland, but during recent years they have revived. The concrete streets are teared open and there there is "click click click" hammering all over when streets are turned back to cobblestones again. It is purely for esthetic reasons.

Same all over Europe. Cobblestones are back again. More expensive, but almost maintenance free. I thought granite was gray or pink. The black cobblestones look much better when wet, but I don´t know what kind of stone.

Isn't there a six inch strip or something on the Indianapolis racetrack, made up of small bricks from the original track?

Cobblestones don't have to be granite, it's used more today 'cos it's hard. Old cobbles would be made from the local stone. <BR><BR>Granite comes in lots of colours.

Driving on cobbles/setts requires extra caution when it's wet - your tires aren't fully in contact with the street because of the air gaps between the stones, plus the granite is pretty slippery in the first place, so skid city awaits, and I have the insurance records to prove it.<BR><BR>Tony, was it punishment because they were replacing the setts or because it was in Dalry?

Did the USA ever have cobblestone streets? If so were they removed?<BR>I had not thought about how dreary the streets are in USA, now I know what was wrong with the cities :^) Not really, just a joke, Americans.

Yes,down in the Wall Street area,near where the World Trade Center stood,there are cobblestone streets,and in the meatpacking district.Also I think still in some areas of the West Village.

Still parts of Beacon Hill in Boston with small areas of cobblestone(Louisburg Square comes to mind).<BR><BR>While in the Dordogne, found this old church with the cobblestones set ON END, pointy end up. And people stood during Mass. Talk about hell on earth.<BR><BR> <BR>

Acorn Street, on Beacon Hill, is the only street that's cobblestoned for its entire (brief) length. Most of the cobblestones in Boston weren't removed, they were paved over; you can still see them during road work or under potholes.