The eternal City i.e. Rome is home to some of the famous communal baths showcasing the life and habits of ancient Romans. You have to take a tour of this historic attraction to witness life in times past due.

The Baths of Caracalla: History of Communal Bathing

Caracalla Baths are the second largest communal baths of Rome. They were built between 212 and 219 A.D. by Emperor Marcus Aurelius Antoninus, who was known by his famous nickname of Caracalla. The red-brick ruins of the Baths of Caracalla are situated southeast of the city center. The bath complex is huge spanning more than 27 acre housing bathing facilities with seats for more than 1600 people. In ancient times, the baths were fed by a branch of the Aqua Marcia aqueduct, which brought pure water to Rome from springs in the hills near Subiaco. The hills were at an approximate distance of 90 km away. The water flowed into a huge cistern which was divided into 18 separate chambers for easy maintenance. It had a total capacity of 80,000 cu. m. From here it went by gravity flow through pipes underneath the gardens to the main building. The baths remained functional until 537AD when Goths destroyed the aqueduct, cutting off the water supply.

Historical significance

The ritual of bathing in ancient Rome was a complicated and tedious process. It started with a hot bath in the calidarium. This was followed by the lukewarm tepidarium, followed by the cold frigidarium. This was completed by a swim in the natatio i.e. an open air swimming pool. The baths are considered historically relevant as they bear testimony to the excellent drainage and water distribution facility engineered by ancient Romans. A complicated distribution system carried the water directly to the cold pools or to boilers over wood fires where it was heated for the warm and hot baths. Outlets from each basin and in the floor of each room led to the drains, which ran below the level of the distribution pipes and took the waste water to the municipal drain in the valley. Both distribution and drainage pipes were housed in tunnels providing easy access for inspection and maintenance. A third network of tunnels was used to store the enormous amounts of wood required to fuel the furnaces.

Major Attractions

The complex was designed to be a multifunctional leisure center. It also housed gymnasiums, libraries, gardens, art galleries, restaurants and even brothels. Today these ruined decaying rooms with their marble covered floors and intricate provocative figurines adorning the walls form a major tourist attraction. Its marble seats, mosaic covered walls and floors as well as fountains and statues also add to the attraction. Another interesting feature for some tourists is the heated rooms in the main building of the bathing complex. These rooms were situated on the south-western side of the building. The ‘calidarium,’ is known as the hottest room projecting the building contours and consequently taking of the sun’s rays. Hollow terracotta tubes ran inside the walls to provide insulation and channel hot air.

Visiting the Caracalla baths

The best times of the year to visit are April, May, and late September through October. The heat and sweltering crowds could make your tour unbearable. Similarly, if you traveling from outside the country, it is best to avoid the August month. August month poses as the holiday month for the Italians. The Caracalla baths hold great attraction in the cooling months of September and October. The complex provides myriad fun and adventure opportunities for children. Usually, the bathing complex plays host to school children on field trips. The baths are open to the public on payment of a small charge, which does not apply to students or pensioners. Access is limited to certain areas to avoid damage to the mosaic floors.

Travel and fun

Getting to the complex is generally by bus or tram. It is better to explore the complex ruins on foot with aid of a street map. The complex is adorned with street signs which make it easy for navigation by tourists. The ruins now serve as modern gymnastic facility for many sport events. Cultural and musical concerts also find a place in this historic place. The baths clearly reflect the ingenuity and organization skill of ancient Rome city planners and politicians.

For those history buffs out there this is for you. I consider myself a bit of an armchair archeologist and would love to spend some quality time with these ancient sites. You could say that the western world was formed in these sites as many famous events or people came from each and every one. History is dripping with each of these sites and I am sure that if you are at all interested in ancient history you will not be bored with what these top 10 ancient ruins in Rome have to offer.

The Coliseum in Rome is perhaps one of the best known sites in all of the world. I dare you to show a picture of this site in almost every country and someone is bound to know what is was and some of the legends of this ancient ruin. I have been to this site myself and have to tell you that it is well worth the visit if you go inside and take the tour.

Second to the Coliseum in Rome is the Pantheon or the temple of the Gods. The root of the ancient religion that founded modern western society this site contains so many relics it will take your breath away. It is now a converted church and one of the best preserved sites from the ancient time period.

The Roman Forum was the center of the ancient city of Rome. Here this place contained temples, markets, basilicas, and arches. One of the benefits of visiting this site is that the admission is free so be sure to take your time walking around and exploring what was once Rome in its earliest days.

Piazza Navona was originally built as a stadium for ancient athletic contests. It now contains some of the best fountains and cafes you will find in the city.

If you want to see where the ancient Roman emperors ruled then be sure to check out Palatine Hill. The Domus Flavia and Domus Augustana were built as the home to the emperors and served them for over 300 years. Remarkably these structures still stand today. With admission to this ancient site  you can also view the Palatine Museum as well so I guess you get a better deal if you visit this site.

Back in ancient Rome taking a bath was a social event and this took place at the Baths of Caracalla. This huge complex could hold up to 1600 Roman bathers believe it or not! This was also a place to buy food and drink and get a workout as well as this building contained a gym as well.

The world’s oldest shopping market or Trajan’s market is definitely worth checking out as well. Built over several floors this building contained marble floors and an extensive library as well.

If you wish to view ancient catacombs and explore how the people of Rome are buried then be sure to check out Via Appia Antica and Catacombs. Via Appla was the ancient road that lead to Rome and was started in 312 B.C.E. and on this road you will find many tombstones of ancient Roman Christians.

Finally the ancient port of Ostia Antica should also be on your list. Without this port of commerce Rome could have never survived as Rome existed on the surrounding areas in order to get enough goods to supply the city. This is a truly huge complex and in order to get the most out of y our trip be sure to plan for an extensive stay, perhaps a half day would be recommended.

These ancient sites represent the foundation of the city and of the culture of Rome. Without these sites many of the ancient history of Rome could not have occurred. You cannot consider yourself a history buff until you have visited all of these sites personally.