Terme di Caracalla in Rome, italy
Saturday, March 22nd, 2008This Rome information blog article about the Terme di Caracalla is written for the guests of the Chaplin Bed and Breakfast in Rome.
History of the Baths of Caracalla
The Terme di Caracalla costitute one of the biggest and most impressive monuments in Rome. They were built between 212 and 217 by Caracalla, the son of the Emperor Settimo Severio.
The word Terme comes from the Greek thèrmai, “warm springs”. In Roman times the Terme were public baths where the citizens of Rome used to come together in order to relax and to discuss things. The baths of Caracalla were among the most important and imposing ones: even today the height of its walls still impresses.
In the times of the Roman Empire 16 hundred people could visit the Terme di Caracalla, the ruins of which can be found on the slopes of the Aventine Hill.
Description of the Terme di Caracalla
The gigantic complex was structured with a big building in it center, surrounded by green spaces, with 4 gates of admission.
Inside the Terme the building is almost perfectly symmetrical, with a central basilica covered by three vaults (the frigidarium, the tepidarium and the calidarium). The gyms (palestre) and the dressing rooms can be found on the sides.
The order was to visit first the gym and the Turkish bath and to end in the frigidarium, which, unlike the tepidarium and calidarium was not heated.
The Terme di Caracalla were restored several times until Vitige, king of the Ostrogoti, cut off the water supply through the acquaducts.
In the 16th century the two granite tubs that nowadays decorate the Piazza Farnese were found during excavations at the Terme di Caracalla. Other works of art that were found there can now be seen in Rome’s Vatican Museums and in the Museo Archeologico Nazionale in Napels.