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Baths of Caracalla

Viale delle Terme di Caracalla, Roma, Lazio

Description

The Baths of Caracalla (Terme di Caracalla) were Rome's second largest public baths (thermae), measuring 337x328m and accommodating up to 1,600 customers at any one point. They were built during the reign of Septimus Severus and his son Caracalla in the early 3rd century AD using tuf, lime, basalt, marble, and pozzolana. The water was brought through the Acqua Antoniniana aqueduct and heated using coal and wood underneath the ground. The baths were used as a leisure center (not simply for washing) and housed a Mithraeum (for the worship of Mithra, the Zoroastrian divinity). The thermae were used until the 6th century and destroyed by the earthquake of 847. For centuries afterwards the site was used as a "quarry" for construction material until excavations started in the 1820s.

Access & Transport

Address: 52 Viale delle Terme di Caracalla The closest metro station Circo Massimo (line B), 800 m away Several bus stop at "Terme Caracalla" and "Terme Caracalla/Valle Camene"

Instructions & Recommendations

This activity is walking distance to the Circus Maximus and Palatino as well as the Testaccio neighbourhood and the beginning of the Via Appia Antica at Porta San Sebastiano.

Meta review

The baths are not heavily advertised so that, according to online reviews, they aren't crowded and no advanced booking is required. Opinions of the complex are excellent and visitors regularly highlight how large it is, even if some point out it could be better cared for. Recurring advice to pay for an audio-guide to get a better understanding of what you are looking at and appreciate some of the technical aspects of the baths.

Environmental & Social

We deem this activity quite green (no or limited carbon footprint) and it helps preserve the city's historical and architectural heritage.

Conclusion

Great opportunity to see and understand how Roman Baths worked in a relaxing environnent. Maybe not a priority for a first trip to the city but certainly worth a visit

Key positive

Interesting and impressive in scale

Not crowded

Key negative

Not much left of the original complex

Suitability

Suitable for all ages and accessible to visitors with reduced mobility

About this Rating

TYPE

Desktop

RESEARCHED IN

April 2023

PROVIDER

Koreval

Included Items
None
Timing
Duration of visit
Last admission 1h before closing. Closed on 01 Jan and 25 Dec

av. transport time:0h 35m

est. visit time:1h 15m

Regulated hours

Start of Season 1:Mar, 27

Season 1

MONDAY -

TUESDAY09:00 - 19:15

WEDNESDAY09:00 - 19:15

THURSDAY09:00 - 19:15

FRIDAY09:00 - 19:15

SATURDAY09:00 - 19:15

SUNDAY09:00 - 19:15

Start of Season 2:Oct, 01

Season 2

MONDAY -

TUESDAY09:30 - 16:30

WEDNESDAY09:30 - 16:30

THURSDAY09:30 - 16:30

FRIDAY09:30 - 16:30

SATURDAY09:30 - 16:30

SUNDAY09:30 - 16:30

Pricing
Age band
Age band
Regular price / pers.
Senior
65 - 99
€10
Adult
18 - 64
€10
Child
3 - 17
€0
Infant
0 - 2
€0
Includes €2 online booking fee. Price for EU citizens aged 18-25 is €4

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