Discover the Antique Rome and its major monuments by visiting the Caracalla Baths and the Maximus Circus during a walk!
The Baths of Caracalla in Rome ( Terme di Caracalla ) are part of the most important Roman vestiges, yet they are still little visited compared to the other Roman sites of the Italian capital. They allow us to have a great insight into the way the Romans have made bath one of the most luxurious leisure activities we find today.
Flickr – Jonas Witt
Started in the year 206 (after JC) by Emperor Septime Severus (Septimius Severus) and completed by his son, Caracalla , the 11-hectare complex could accommodate 1600 bathers at a time. With an Olympic-sized swimming pool and baths, Caracalla’s thermal baths could also boast of two different gymnasiums for weightlifting, boxing and fighting, a library with Latin and Greek texts, and shops, restaurants and gardens. All the services depended on the slaves, who were taking care of the dress of customers, were feeding them, and ensuring all their needs. Under the marble pavement of the majestic rooms, other slaves worked in a maze of tiny pieces and passages, attimicking the fires that warmed the water.
Flickr – Stuck in Customs
Taking a bath was a long and complex process that makes sense if you see it, first and foremost, as a social activity. We were starting in Southatoria , a series of small rooms resembling saunas. Here we sat down and sweated. From there we were going to caldarium , a large circular room that was wet rather than simply hot. This is where the real action of washing took effect. We used one. strigil (a scraper) to remove dirt, and if we were rich, a slave would take care of it. Then direction the hot (heated) tepidarium , who helped you start to cool yourself. I mean, we were gonna swim and swim in the pool. frigidarium a pool filled with cold water.
Flickr – mastino70
Today, the complex of the Caracalla Baths is a simple shell of what it was. While some fragments of black and white mosaic remain, you need to use your imagination to see the interior as it was once, filled with sumptuous mosaics, frescoes and sculptures, including the famous Farnese Bull. But to get an idea of the magnitude of the ambitions of the ancient Rome, some sites are in better condition. The walls still hold, the holes in the walls shrink, and we could almost hear the laughs of the bathers who have been missing for a long time, splashing in the baths. If you come visit the Baths of Caracalla during the summer, be sure to attend an outdoor opera or a ballet in the baths, organized by the Teatro dell’Opera di Roma .
Flickr – ggallezot
How to get to the Caracalla Baths from Rome?
Here is where the Caracalla Baths are on a map in Rome. To go, you can take the metro and get off at the stop Circo Massimo or take one of the buses from the 118, 628, 160 and 715 lines.
Information, schedules, prices
The entrance fee is 6€ for an adult, and free for persons under 18 years of age and over 65 years of age residing in the European Union. 3€ for EU members between 18 and 25 years. The price includes access to the Villa des Quintili and the Tomb of Cæcilia Metella.
Timetable: The baths are open daily except January 1, May 1 and December 25.
Monday from 8.30am to 2pm last Sunday from October to February 15 from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm 16 February to 15 March from 8:30 to 5:00 p.m. from 16 March to the last Sunday of March from 8:30 to 17:30 last Sunday from March to August 31 from 8:30 to 7:15 1 to 30 September from 8:30 to 7:00 p.m. October 1st to last Sunday from 8:30 am to 6:30 pm Easter Friday from 8.30am to 2pm
The entrance closes 1h before the official closure.
Have you ever visited the Caracalla Baths during your stay in Rome?
If you are looking for other activities to do or monuments to see in Rome, do not hesitate to consult our article on the Roma Pass , which allows you to visit Rome without taking your head!
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