Caracalla Baths – excavations of the Roman bathhouse
Terme di Caracalla – excavations of the Roman bathhouse
All information about the excavations of the ‘Terme di Caracalla’ in Rome; the huge bathhouse and baths of Emperor Caracalla.
Info & Tickets Baths of Caracalla |
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| address | Viale della Terme di Caracalla 52 Rome |
| metro | Circo Massimo underground station (line B) then 400 meters on foot |
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| Good to know | In summer, Italian operas are regularly performed in the open air among the ruins |
Terme di Caracalla
The Caracalla baths were built in the 3rd century and named after Emperor Caracalla, who, together with his father, Emperor Septimius Severus, commissioned the construction of the huge bathhouse complex. This, along with the Colosseum, was one of the largest buildings in Roman times.
The 11 hectare baths, richly adorned with beautiful mosaics, frescoes and marble paneling at the time, were the largest bathhouse complex in Rome with space for over 2,500 people. Ordinary people were also welcome in the complex of cold, warm, and hot baths, pools, massage rooms, changing rooms, receptions, and even libraries and brothels. In addition to hygiene, the bathrooms primarily had a social and sporting function.
The Roman bathing ritual began with a hot water bath. (Calidarium). Then people went to the lukewarm tepidarium and finally the cold bath (frigidarium). This was often followed by a swim in the Natatio, an outdoor pool.
The baths were used extensively for over 300 years but lost their function when the aqueducts that supplied water to the complex were badly damaged by the Goths in an attack on the city. Today there are many ruins here as earthquakes and raids left their mark on the orders of the Popes.
However, some areas remained as the baths were outside the city due to their enormous size. The Via Appia or the Appian Way originally ran past the Caracalla Baths.
