Rome is dotted with the most extraordinary tourist attractions and ancient architectural gems that were so well-built in the time of the Ancient Romans that they have remained standing to this day, hundreds and hundreds of years (and even millennia) later. These lofty examples of Roman architectural and structural prowess dot the city, set among the bustling daily life of modern-day Romans, and attract endless crowds of tourists who have been coming since the 17th century to admire them and learn from them. If you have always wanted to see those famous ruins of that long-gone empire then browse our vacation rentals in Rome and start planning the trip of your dreams to finally go and make it happen.
One of the more famous examples in the city of these incredible ruins is the Baths of Caracalla. This ancient thermal complex was once the city's largest public baths, or thermae, and was likely built in the period between 211 or 212AD and 216 or 217AD, during the rule of the emperors Septimus Severus and his son, Caracalla, for whom it was named. Located in the southern area of Rome of Regio XII at the time, the site on which the Baths were built was formerly a vast garden that was known as the Horti Asiniani. In fact, the so-called Farnese Bull sculptural group that came to adorn the Baths was actually already present in the gardens and later moved into the Baths after they were built. Work on the Baths was fast-tracked, with back-breaking efforts required from the workers doing the actual manual labour, in order to get it finished in the relatively short, approximately six-year-long, period in which it was built and from then on it was in use until the 6th century with some later renovations and modifications by subsequent rulers.
One of the more famous examples in the city of these incredible ruins is the Baths of Caracalla. This ancient thermal complex was once the city's largest public baths, or thermae, and was likely built in the period between 211 or 212AD and 216 or 217AD, during the rule of the emperors Septimus Severus and his son, Caracalla, for whom it was named. Located in the southern area of Rome of Regio XII at the time, the site on which the Baths were built was formerly a vast garden that was known as the Horti Asiniani. In fact, the so-called Farnese Bull sculptural group that came to adorn the Baths was actually already present in the gardens and later moved into the Baths after they were built. Work on the Baths was fast-tracked, with back-breaking efforts required from the workers doing the actual manual labour, in order to get it finished in the relatively short, approximately six-year-long, period in which it was built and from then on it was in use until the 6th century with some later renovations and modifications by subsequent rulers.
The complex of the Baths of Caracalla covered over 25 hectares was made up of three main, large bathing rooms – one with a cold pool, one with a lukewarm pool, and one with a hot pool – in addition to other spaces and buildings that housed other facilities for relaxing including two libraries, a swimming pool, two gyms, saunas and extensive gardens. The Baths could occupy up to 1600 bathers at any one time and it became a space to not only bathe and unwind but also to meet friends and, even, network. Even today, though only ruins of the original complex remains, the incredibly massive scale of the Baths still astounds visitors. The gardens can still be wandered and enjoyed, much as they would have been when the Baths still remained in their former glory but a dose of imagination will be necessary to picture what the Baths themselves would have looked like and how they would have figured in the daily lives of Romans.
When you visit today, you will find that there have been, thankfully, rather minimal modern interventions to the Baths as a tourist attraction. In fact, there is no proper exhibition space to speak of and there are few information panels littered around the buildings. At the entrance gate you will just find a small bookshop where you can hire audio guides, which we would highly recommend (or joining a tour) in order to help you make sense of what you are seeing and to visualise it as how it must have once looked. Open from 9am to 7.15pm from Thursday to Sunday and with entrance to the grounds costing just €8.00 (with a reduced fee of just €2.00 for those those under 25 who are citizens of the European Union) and covered by the Roma Pass Ticket that can be bought to allow access to various attractions in the city, a visit to the Baths is easy to fit into your trip, quite a bargain, and well-worth the cost of entry. There are a couple of things to keep in mind, however; there is minimal shade and you'll need to make sure to wear a hat on very sunny days to protect yourself and the complex is quite isolated, with just a small stall selling snacks just outside, so be sure to plan around any members of your party who might be prone to getting hangry!
Astounding in scale and durability, the Baths are a must-see for those exploring Rome and who are interested in the glorious past of the capital city of Italy.
When you visit today, you will find that there have been, thankfully, rather minimal modern interventions to the Baths as a tourist attraction. In fact, there is no proper exhibition space to speak of and there are few information panels littered around the buildings. At the entrance gate you will just find a small bookshop where you can hire audio guides, which we would highly recommend (or joining a tour) in order to help you make sense of what you are seeing and to visualise it as how it must have once looked. Open from 9am to 7.15pm from Thursday to Sunday and with entrance to the grounds costing just €8.00 (with a reduced fee of just €2.00 for those those under 25 who are citizens of the European Union) and covered by the Roma Pass Ticket that can be bought to allow access to various attractions in the city, a visit to the Baths is easy to fit into your trip, quite a bargain, and well-worth the cost of entry. There are a couple of things to keep in mind, however; there is minimal shade and you'll need to make sure to wear a hat on very sunny days to protect yourself and the complex is quite isolated, with just a small stall selling snacks just outside, so be sure to plan around any members of your party who might be prone to getting hangry!
Astounding in scale and durability, the Baths are a must-see for those exploring Rome and who are interested in the glorious past of the capital city of Italy.
