Baths of Caracalla, Rome, Italy

The Baths of Caracalla were the second largest Roman public baths, or thermae, in Rome. It was built between AD 212 and 217, during the reigns of Septimius Severus and Caracalla. They would have had to install over 2,000t of material every day for six years in order to complete it in this time.

The baths remained in use until the 6th century when the complex was taken by the Ostrogoths during the Gothic War, at which time the hydraulic installations were destroyed. The bath was free and open to the public. The earthquake of 847 destroyed much of the building, along with many other Roman structures.

The building was heated by a hypocaust, a system of burning coal and wood underneath the ground to heat water provided by a dedicated aqueduct. It was in use up to the 19th century. The Aqua Antoniniana aqueduct, a branch of the earlier Aqua Marcia, by Caracalla was specifically built to serve the baths. It was most likely reconstructed by Garbrecht and Manderscheid to its current place.

In the 19th and early 20th century, the design of the baths was used as the inspiration for several modern structures, including St George's Hall in Liverpool and the original Pennsylvania Station in New York City. At the 1960 Summer Olympics, the venue hosted the gymnastics events.

References:

Wikipedia

User Reviews

Darragh Doran (3 months ago)
Rather than attempt to explain the colossal size of the baths, I would recommend seeing this one for yourself, a far quieter experience than most in Rome due to its location, slightly outside the main tourist fair, this is a must if time is on your side. Tickets are roughly €5 cheaper if bought online but can be bought at the entrance. This one will bring you back in time GUARANTEED!

Kat Smith (3 months ago)
We were recommended this place by a guide but didn't get there until our last day in Rome. It was really impressive, mostly due to the sheer scale of the building, but some mosaics and details still exist. If you're overwhelmed by crowds this is definitely somewhere to enjoy. We arrived about 90 minutes before closing time and it was nearly deserted. There was an interesting modern photo exhibition amongst the ruins too.

Alfonso P (4 months ago)
Impressive site. Very interesting, with a few beautiful mosaics. Nice and quiet park. I visited it on a date where it was free. Very nice visit, but for the price, places like the Roman Forum is a much better deal. Oh, as often in Rome, bathrooms are awful ?

Frank Voci (6 months ago)
The most peaceful tourist attraction in Rome. It’s like walking through the ruins of a grand cathedral. Quiet and grand and kind of unbelievable that this was a public bath. Doesn’t take long to see everything but I just sat and enjoyed the peace for quite a while.

Shreyamsa Manjunath (8 months ago)
This place is a hidden gem of sorts. Even though it is well known, it is without the massive crowds usually associated with Rome and its attractions! A massive 3rd century marvel, it houses key structures as a testament of the genius engineering prowess of the Romans. Majestic, artistic, tasteful and pompous at places. The mosaics are extremely well preserved. We can even witness active efforts of preservation and restoration going on in the area. Definitely, one place not to be missed!

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