Caracalla's thermal baths

The Baths of Caracalla, one of the most grandiose and well-preserved thermal complexes of ancient Rome, represent one of the most extraordinary testimonies of the engineering skills and architectural magnificence of the Romans. Built by the emperor Caracalla between 212 and 216 AD, these baths were intended not only for bathing, but also for socializing, relaxing, and physical activity of the Roman citizens, at a time when public bathing was an important social institution. Located southeast of the historic center, along the ancient Via Nova, the Baths of Caracalla occupy an area of about 120,000 square meters. The complex included a wide range of structures: from the caldarium, the hot bath, to the tepidarium, the warm bath, to the frigidarium, the cold bath. In addition to these, there were gymnasiums, libraries, gardens, and spaces for relaxation and conversation. The layout of the rooms was designed to provide a logical and functional sequence for the users, gradually moving from the hot rooms to the cold ones. From an architectural point of view, the Baths of Caracalla were a masterpiece of engineering. The rooms were equipped with hypocaust heating systems, an innovative method that used heat from underground furnaces to heat the floors and walls of the rooms. The boilers were fueled by wood, and the water needed for the pools and fountains was supplied by the Aqua Marcia aqueduct, specially restored and expanded to meet the needs of the thermal complex. The decorations of the Baths of Caracalla were equally magnificent. The floors were covered with polychrome mosaics depicting mythological scenes, marine animals, and geometric motifs. The walls were lined with precious marbles from different parts of the empire, and the niches housed statues of deities and mythological figures. Among the most famous works of art that adorned the baths, we remember the sculptural group of the Farnese Bull, now preserved in the National Archaeological Museum of Naples, and the famous Farnese Hercules, a Roman copy of a Greek original, also preserved in Naples. The Baths of Caracalla were not only a place of physical well-being, but also a center of culture and leisure. The libraries housed literary and scientific texts, while the large gardens and gymnasiums offered spaces for physical exercise and sports competitions. This complex represented a microcosm of Roman daily life, where people of all social classes could meet and socialize. After the fall of the Roman Empire, the baths fell into disuse and were gradually stripped of their marbles and decorations, used for other constructions. However, thanks to their solid structure and the quality of the materials used, much of the baths have survived to this day. During the Middle Ages, the ruins were used as a quarry for building materials, and it was only in the Renaissance that their historical and artistic importance began to be rediscovered. Archaeological excavations conducted since the 19th century have allowed a large part of the complex to be brought to light and a better understanding of its structure and function. Today, the Baths of Caracalla are an important tourist attraction and a site of great interest for archaeologists and art historians. The site is managed by the Archaeological Superintendence of Rome, which is responsible for the conservation and enhancement of the complex. One of the most fascinating anecdotes concerning the Baths of Caracalla concerns the discovery, during the 19th-century excavations, of a large polychrome mosaic depicting athletes and scenes of combat. This mosaic, known as the “Gladiator Mosaic,” was detached and transferred to the Vatican Museums, where it can still be admired today. The mosaic offers an extraordinary testimony to the Romans’ passion for sports and competitions, as well as to the skill of the artists who created it. In recent times, the Baths of Caracalla have found a new life as a setting for outdoor performances and concerts. The natural acoustics of the ruins and the evocative setting make this site an ideal place for cultural events of great appeal. Among the most famous performances hosted at the Baths of Caracalla, the summer seasons of the Rome Opera stand out, attracting thousands of spectators every year.