Take a dip into the past at Rome’s ancient Baths of Caracalla, where Ancient Romans got naked, clean, and well-read.
The immense ruins of the Baths of Caracalla.
A short jaunt from the Colosseum lies one of Rome‘s other great historic treasures: the Baths of Caracalla. Located in a peaceful park, the current site is a perfect fit for picnics or a peaceful summer snooze under the cypress trees. However, 1,800 years ago the baths buzzed with excitement as thousands of Romans descended on the complex for bathing, socializing, and even reading!
The complex included actual baths, a gym, a library and an art museum; Caracalla was so much more than a place to clean up after walking Rome’s dirty streets.
Google Maps Just a short little trip from Ancient Rome’s center.
The Baths of Caracalla, according to records, were actually the great ambition of Emperor Septimus Severus (of the Arch of Septimus Severus fame) who designed the structure in 206 CE. But the name and fame went to his son Caracalla, who finished the baths in 217 CE.
Caracalla: Emperor, Bather Extraordinaire, Fashion Icon.
The Caracalla bath complex was extensive; the 33 acres (25 hectares) held baths, sports centers, swimming pools, gardens, libraries, music venues, restaurants and even sleeping quarters. It could easily accommodate nearly 2,000 people at a time, with over 75% of them naked at any given time. (So, it was kind of like a Vegas hotel.)
Plan of the main Caracalla complex building, with rooms beyond count. The Baths even contained a stadium and an indoor swimming pool! [Full Image]
The baths were open every day from sunrise to sunset and open to all. Roman citizens kept very clean, even by today’s standards. Many local commoners ventured to the baths at least once a day, but it was not rare to see a rich senator there too!
Public Domain Who wouldn’t mind taking a dip in a room like this?
The first stop to many visits was the gym, where the Romans wrestled and boxed. Visitors would first get changed in one of the changing rooms, sometimes posting a slave to protect valuables if they could afford one. They then would head out to one of the two open courtyards (palaestra) and exercise to their hearts content, afterward a trip to the baths was in order.
The place is gigantic. One of the apses (or half circle parts) of the sporting area (palaestrum) on the left side of the diagram.
The left palaestrum.
The baths section itself contained a cold room (frigidarium) for cold water bathing, a huge pool for warm water bathing (tepidarium) and a hot room (caldarium, kind of like a sauna) for a nice steam treatment. A typical Roman guy usually started at the caldarium (all sweaty from that totally straight wrestling), and then moved onward to the tepidarium where he would have his skin scraped and oiled by a slave to remove dirt and sweat from his skin, or even shave off some stubborn body hair (smooth skin was fashionable). Then he moved onto the frigidarium for a nice cool dip and finished off at the outdoor pool.
The expansive frigidarium at Caracalla.
After bathing a visitor could enjoy watching a sporting event, a stroll through the gardens, get something to eat, or visit the library.
The geometrically tiled room that connects the natatio to the right palaestrum. Parts of the second stories still remain intact, including this staircase.
The Baths complex came highly decorated. Vivid mosaics graced the floors and art adorned the grounds. Modern travelers can still see some Caracalla artwork at the Archaeological Museum in Naples, which ended up with two great marble statues (which were, of course, rip-offs of Greek statues).
The Farnese Bull, dated to 222-235 CE, found in the baths during excavations of the rubble in 1546 headed up by then-pontiff Pope Paul III. The statue found itself decorating his family’s villa in Rome, later transported to Naples in 1826.
The Baths of Caracalla survived in working fashion for 60 years following the Fall of Rome in 476. In 537, the Goths sacked Rome again and cut off the aqueduct which fed the baths. The Caracalla complex remained dry until an earthquake destroyed them in 847. Subsequent raids (columns ended up in a nearby church) reduced them to the shell we see today.
Still, the Baths of Caracalla are a major 21st-century tourist destination in Rome. Visitors can still wander through the ruins, walk through the footsteps of thousands of Romans who came before them. If ever find yourself in Rome, take a quick jaunt from the Ancient Forum, bring a picnic, and enjoy the peaceful ruins of the Baths of Caracalla.
You don’t even have to visit Rome to wander through these dramatic ruins: Google Street View to the rescue!
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