Diocletian Baths. Baths of Diocletian, Rome

The Romans were experts not only in military affairs and art. Built in the 3rd century AD, the Terme di Diocleziano was truly the crown jewel of engineering at the time. The technical equipment of the baths was far ahead of its time. In terms of convenience and quality of performance, the terms can compete with modern spa complexes of our time. The baths owe their name to the Roman emperor Gaius Aurelius Diocletian, who at the end of his reign abdicated power and retired to his small homeland to grow cabbage.

The area allotted for construction was 30 hectares... At the same time in the baths they could take water treatments over three thousand people for whom individual baths were installed and public steam rooms were equipped. Three large swimming pools have also been built for visitors. Water was supplied to the baths and pools by direct flow through the complex structure of the aqueduct connected to the outlet of the Marcius aqueduct.

The townspeople (and the entrance was allowed to all free citizens) not only washed, but also spent time culturally in gardens with sculptures, attended performances in the amphitheater, read books in the library and did physical exercises in the gym.

Unfortunately, by the 7th century, the Baths of Diocletian fell into decay and gradually collapsed. In the middle of the 16th century, the great sculptor and architect Michelangelo built a new Renaissance-style thermal bath and a monastery on the remains of a bath.

Healing properties of Term

Swimming in warm water, rich in mineral salts, has been considered a healing event since ancient times. Hydrotherapy in thermal springs, according to Hippocrates, positively influenced the general physical condition of a person. The Roman baths received special value due to the supply of water of various temperatures to the baths. In an amazing way, the heating of the water by the sun's rays was organized, while the water in the shaded areas remained cool. Roman physicians noted the special chemical and physical properties of spring water, which had a beneficial effect on the health of the Romans.

Great Baths today

Today the Baths of Diocletian are an interesting architectural monument, divided into three parts, surrounded by the gardens of the Republic Square.

Part of the territory was given over to the main exposition of the Roman National Museum, or the Museum of Thermes. The exposition of the museum includes the walls of the baths themselves, antique sculptures (including the creations of Michelangelo himself) and other objects from life. ancient rome... Another part of the Baths of Diocletian was rebuilt into the Basilica of San Bernardo alle Terme. The rest of the buildings in the form of ruins are left modern tourists visiting Rome for study and admiration.

Travel and conditions of visit

The baths are located on Via Enrico de Nicola at number 79. The best way to get to the thermae and the museum - take the Roman metro. You need to get off at the stations Republic (Repubblica) or Termini (Termini), then follow the signs to walk a few hundred meters. Alternative way of travel: buses No. 82, 61, 62, 60, 492 to the Cernaia stop.

Entrance for foreigners is paid, tickets are sold at the box office... The cost of acquaintance with the thermal baths is 8.5-12 euros, depending on the number of sightseeing attractions. For a maximum cost of 12 euros, tourists get the opportunity to see the Terme in full for several days. Visits for tourists are allowed on all days except Monday, from 9:00 to 19:45, ticket offices close half an hour before the end of work.

Not far from the thermal baths there is a baroque church.

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The Baths of Diocletian, the construction of which was completed in 303 AD, occupied an area of ​​13 hectares and could simultaneously accommodate 3 thousand people. In addition to pools with hot and cold water, halls for philosophical debates, a library, an amphitheater, and gardens with fountains and pavilions were laid out here.

Little remains of the rich interior decoration of the premises, but nevertheless the Terme di Diocletian was lucky: their ruins were transformed into such architectural masterpieces as the Basilica of Santa Maria degli Angeli, built by Michelangelo, and the Church of San Bernardo alle Terme. Other renovated rooms have been transferred to the National Museum of Rome, which houses an excellent collection of antique sculptures.

Helpful information

Where are the Baths of Diocletian

The address of the term of Diocletian (original name - Terme di Diocleziano) is as follows: Viale E. de Nicola, 79, Rome, Italy.

How to get to the Baths of Diocletian

The Baths of Diocletian are located on Enrico De Nicola Street, building number 79. Landmark - Termini railway station - the entrance to Thermes is just opposite it. The most convenient way to get here is by metro, line T.

Diocletian's Thermal Operating Mode

The baths open at 9:00 and close at 19:45. Day off - Monday.

Entrance fee

Unfortunately, only ruins remain of many of the ancient sights of the Italian capital, but even what has survived and has been restored amazes tourists with its scale. Baths of Diocletian - this is the name of the ancient Roman public baths. This is a whole complex of structures of equal size and technical equipment in the empire never existed.

The history of the creation of the Baths of Diocletian in Rome

By order of the Emperor Diocletian, the construction of baths in " eternal city”Began in 298. Seven years later, the complex was completely finished and consecrated in honor of Caesar. The buildings were located on a vast territory of 13 hectares and could simultaneously accommodate about three thousand visitors. The Roman baths of Diocletian included three thousand baths and three large pools, which were supplied with water from underground aqueducts.

The interior of the complex was no less luxurious:

• unique mosaic floors;
• cladding with marble;
• babbling fountains;
• statues of the gods.

Termi Diocleziano was a favorite holiday destination for the Romans. They performed not only the functions of baths, but also were a cozy place for communication, a hotbed of social and cultural life in Rome. All free citizens were allowed to enter. On the territory of Diocletian's baths, fountains, marble sculptures were built, gardens with pavilions were laid out. There were also meeting rooms, a library, an amphitheater and a gymnasium.

The legend says that the baths of Diocletian in Rome were built by Christians condemned to death and it took 10 years to build the complex. During the Roman Empire, the baths could be visited by men, women and children. The Romans came to the complex to unwind, relax, chat with each other, or take a walk. More active townspeople visited the baths of Diocletian to play sports games, to engage in wrestling.

The baths had several rooms for various types of procedures:

• taking cold baths in a cool room (frigidaria);
• hot, like modern saunas;
• warm, to preheat the body.

In the middle of the 16th century, the Goths destroyed the Roman aqueduct, and the baths of Diocletian fell into disrepair. Over time, the complex began to decay, until in 1563, by order of Pope Pius IV, the famous Michelangelo transformed the building. The cozy monastery courtyard, designed by the architect, now houses more than 400 exhibits from the times of imperial Rome and many antique sculptures.

Baths of Diocletian at present

At the end of the 19th century, part of the complex was reconstructed. Currently, this part of the Baths of Diocletian houses the National Museum of Rome. Its archaeological heritage is considered one of the richest in the entire world and consists of finds from the thermal baths, as well as various collections of Roman and Greek art. On the territory of the baths, Michelangelo harmoniously placed the Church of Santa Maria degli Angeli, built in the style of the Renaissance.

The Palazzo Altemps, in addition to the Baths of Diocletian, is one of the main objects national museum Rome. There are 104 sculptures of the antique era, collections belonging to the cardinals Ludovisi, Altemps and the princes of Mattei. The palace was built by Melozzo da Forlì in the 15th century on the Champ de Mars near Piazza Navona.

Another remarkable palace was built by the architect Camilo Pistrucci in 1883-1887. On the ground floor there is a numismatic collection, on the other three - antique paintings, sculptures and mosaics. Particularly memorable are the frescoes with painted birds, trees and flowers from winter triclinium, which previously adorned the villa of Augustus' wife, Libya. The pride of the national museum is considered to be works from Villa Farnezina and sarcophagi. Gall Ludovisi is also a must see in the Baths of Diocletian in Rome. It is a marble replica of a large triumphal monument showing the scene of Gallus killing his wife. The sculpture is filled with expression and is made with full detail of what is happening.

How to get to the Baths of Diocletian

The complex is located on Via Enrico de Nicola. The most convenient way to get to the Baths of Diocletian is to use the metro. You should get off at one of the stations - Termini or Repubblica, and then walk a few hundred meters. Another option to get to the ancient Roman baths is by bus (there are several routes) to the Cernaia stop.

A visit to the Baths of Diocletian in Rome for tourists is possible on any day except Monday. Opening hours from 9.00 to 19.45. It should be borne in mind that ticket offices close half an hour before the end of the complex. Not far from the ancient Roman baths is the Baroque church of Santa Maria della Vittoria, which will also be attractive to tourists.

Baths of Diocletian ( Terme di Diocleziano) were built between 298 and 306 years, becoming the crown of the creation of engineering thought of their time, and represented a colossal thermal complex with an area of ​​over 13,000 sq. meters, the largest ever in Rome. According to legend, Christians condemned to death were engaged in their construction.

The terms occupied the space between, Viminal and. Their size can be estimated by walking around the objects built in their place. This is the basilica, the National Roman Museum, the basilica. Rome's main train station, Termini, is also named after the Baths of Diocletian.

Thermal structures were located in a fenced artificial platform. They included fountains, pavilions, libraries, meeting rooms. In the center of the complex were the baths themselves, built according to the standard plan that had become by that time - the central axis with symmetrically located rooms.

The simple, marble-like plaster facades of the thermal baths were enlivened by sparse mosaic panels at the entrances. Such simplicity of decorative decoration and a gradual increase in volume towards the central hall emphasized the immensity of the complex and distinguished it from religious buildings. The absence of curvilinear rooms, and, consequently, a variety of forms of interiors is the influence of the East.

The Baths of Diocletian accommodated more than 3000 visitors at a time. There were 3000 individual baths and three swimming pools with the purest water... Cold baths were located in the frigidarium, warm ones in the tepidarium, and hot ones in the caldarium. The hottest room - the laconic - was used mainly by the sick. The heat was created by fire under the floor, supported by slaves. Solar heat was also used to heat the water. Water came through a branch from the Marcius aqueduct.

The baths were open to all residents, including women and children, and are completely affordable. But even a modest entrance fee was often covered by the generosity of the emperor or some wealthy person, who took upon himself the cost of visiting the baths by citizens for a period of one day to a year.

Visitors came to the baths not only to wash. All kinds of entertainment, feasts and other events were held within their walls. Here, for example, there was a library in which philosophical debates were held, and in the gymnasiums one could engage in sports and physical exercises. In addition, it was simply possible to get warm here in winter and cool in summer.

The complex functioned until the 6th century and began to fall into desolation and collapse with the arrival of the Goths, which blocked the aqueducts to deprive the Romans of water. And only in the 16th century, under the leadership of the great 87-year-old sculptor and architect Michelangelo, on the ruins of the tepidarium, with the preservation of its walls, the basilica was built Santa Maria degli Angeli e dei Martiri,named so in honor of the Christian martyrs who died during the construction of the thermal baths.

A number of thermal premises became part of the museum, and one of the round lobbies was transformed into another basilica -San Bernardo alle Terme.Remains of another such lobby can be seen between Via Viminale and Piazza dei Cinquecento.

The decision to create the National Roman Museum was made in 1889. His department in the Baths of Diocletian was conceived to familiarize with the beginning of Roman history.The exposition of the museum is the walls of the baths themselves, antique sculptures, household items, weapons of the ancient Romans, Etruscans and other peoples inhabiting the Apennine Peninsula. The rarest exhibits are sarcophagi of ancient and Christian Rome. An extensive epigraphic section demonstrates the emergence and development of the Latin language in various carriers during the 8th century BC. - 4th century AD