I'll probably get this wrong. But, let me try.

Carrera marble is from Italy. It tends to be white with grey. Calcutta is from India. It tends to be white with gold. Calcutta is very expensive. Far more expensive than the Carrera.

There are some great threads here about rocks and stones that will educate you about the differences. It is well worth the effort to read some of these very long threads. This will make you an educated consumer when you are ready to make decisions.

Although I've seen people use "calcutta," I thought it was calacatta. I just looked up calacatta and they say it comes from Italy. Is "calcutta" simply a variant that people say, or is it something completely different that comes from India?

catkin, I totally get where you're more into the marble than the counter. I think you will want to take your time considering materials that will not compete with your marble.

nini, you spelled it correctly. Apparently there is no "calcutta" marble, if the linked site is to be believed.

Here is a link that might be useful: Calacatta vs Calcutta marble

Calacatta is from Italy. One might say, it is down the street from Carrara. The veining in Calacatta is much bolder than Carrara. Calacatta also can be found with gold accents, known as Calacatta Oro, or Gold. The third famous white marble from Italy is Statuary.

I have a Calacatta Gold backsplash next to a Ceasarstone organic white counter. This backsplash has so much movement that it needs a solid color counter. I agree with above that absolute black is about the only granite I can think of that would go with these marbles. Consider using a Quartz counter with your marble backsplash.

Jet Mist / Virginia Mist is another granite that could work with Carrara.

Kashmir White Granite with a polished marble backsplash. I love this one.

Christina222's Calacatta White backsplash with her gorgeous quartzite.

Jet Mist / Virginia Mist is another granite that could work with Carrara.

Thanks All!

Romy I appreciate you posting the photos!

I'm going to somehow try and make it work! :~)

Wait...did you plan to do marble tile or marble slabs for your backsplash? I was thinking you wanted slabs when I posted, but are you actually looking marble tile? That is very different than slabs. Still not sure I would do a countertop with a lot of movement, but marble tile is a completely different animal than a big ol' slab of Calacatta Gold with all that gorgeous veining.

Nini, I could only dream of having slabs of Calacatta or Carrara on my backsplash...so, tile it is!

I'll be looking for the tiles first and if i cannot find a granite that works then I'll have to go to Plan B---whatever that is! Maybe back to quartz?

Thanks!

I have a Carrera herringbone tile backsplash with a Silestone Lagoon counter. Love the marble! There are some seriously spectacular combos in this site, maybe do a search for kitchen reveal and the marble of choice. But one of my (many) all-time favorites is @ratrem's stunning Taj Mahal quartzite w/ honed marble subways.

Here is a link that might be useful: Ratrem's beautupiful kitchen reveal

Carrara is a marble and Carrera is a Porsche. Carrara marble is named after the town where the quarry is. Calacatta also comes from a quarry in Carrara.

smallOH, love that kitchen you linked to, thanks! I'm loving the herringbone not sure if I want the smaller 1 x 3s on mesh or a 3 x 6. Second choice is 3 x 6 subway. Depends on what I can see in person, I guess.

jerzee, your clarification helps a lot, thanks!