Roman Bath Ruins

About this activity

History

A set of ruins of ancient Roman baths that lies on the eastern slope of the Serail Hill. These baths dating back to the 1st century AD were found between 1968 and 1969 and the site was renovated and staged between 1995 and 1997 into its current form.

Overview

Four main chambers are visible on the site where the bather moved from warm to hot baths, through rooms of varying temperatures. Located under the floor, the heating system (hypocaust) allowed the air, warmed by wood fires in adjacent vaults, to circulate between pillars of terracotta disks that heated the marble floor; terracotta pipes in the walls allowed the air to rise up to the ceiling. Water from the boiler fed the marble-tiled pools in the hot room (caldarium), and a large stone basin (labrum) contained cool water for the bathers’ use. Finally, there was a massage parlor and spaces for music performances.

Notes

Another room is still uncovered in the basement at the end of the garden site.