Baths of Diocletian, Rome. The Baths of Diocletian in Rome - a huge complex for water procedures The Baths of Diocletian in Rome opening hours
The Baths of Diocletian
Ancient Rome is a mysterious and surprisingly developed world. From a technical point of view, at one time he did not know equal. Take at least the terms, which were provided with water through underground aqueducts (water pipes). These were not just baths, but entire complexes. One of them is the Baths of Diocletian.
Historical reference
The construction of the thermae began in 298. In 303, they already towered in all their glory and were consecrated, having received the name in honor of Diocletian. The structure turned out to be so huge that it could simultaneously accommodate 3,000 people.
During the invasion of the Vandals and the Goths, the Baths of Diocletian continued to partially function. But in 537, the invaders destroyed the aqueduct that supplied water to the baths, and they were devastated. In 1566, by order of the Pope, the baths began to be restored. Michelangelo took part in the work. He turned the central hall into the church of Santa Maria degli Angeli.
But then a whole period of desolation followed again. So baths gradually became a source of cheap material for the construction of other structures. The Baths of Diocletian suffered most of all in the period from 1586 to 1589, when a villa was being built for Pope Sixtus the Fifth.
In 1889, part of the Baths of Diocletian was turned into a museum. And at the beginning of the 20th century, the authorities of Rome decided to finally make these baths a monument ancient architecture and history. Today it houses the National Roman Museum.
Curious facts
The Baths of Diocletian had beautiful gardens. They were decorated with pavilions and fountains. The complex also included a gymnasium, meeting rooms, a library, a steam room, lounges, cold bath rooms, a swimming pool, and an amphitheatre. All this had a very rich decoration.
Modern excavations have established that the baths were not built from scratch - before that there were even more ancient buildings that were demolished. Water in the Baths of Diocletian came from one of the branches of the Marcius aqueduct.
architectural features
These baths are an example of ancient architecture. They occupied a fairly large area, covering over 13 hectares. The construction was based on the project of two previous terms - the emperors Trajan and Caracalla.
What can be seen?
Today you can see the ruins of the main building from Republic Street. One of the asps has been preserved as the entrance to the church of Santa Maria degli Angeli, which Michelangelo converted from the central hall of the term. Another part became the National Roman Museum. In the people it is simply called the Thermae Museum.
Several round rooms (presumably 1-2) were rebuilt into the Basilica of San Bernardo alle Terme. A fragment of another similar room can be seen between Viminale Street and Cinquecento Square. There are also unused parts of the Baths of Diocletian in the form of ruins. They are located a few streets from the National Roman Museum, which contains such masterpieces as:
- chny fighter;
- Throne of Ludovisi;
- Gallus killing his wife;
- Discobolus, etc.
How to get to the thermae? By metro - to the Republic station (Repubblica), then - 5 minutes on foot; to Termini station (Termini), and then 10 minutes on foot.
Visit time: daily - at 9:00-19:45, except for Monday (this is a day off). The box office closes at 19:15.
Price entrance ticket: full adult - 7 euros.
Address: Rome, street Enrico De Nicola (Via Enrico de Nicola), building 79.
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Unfortunately, only ruins remain of many of the ancient sights of the capital of Italy, but even what has survived and been restored amazes tourists with its scale. Baths of Diocletian - the so-called ancient Roman public baths. This is a whole complex of structures, equal in size and technical equipment in the empire has never been.
The history of the creation of the baths of Diocletian in Rome
By order of 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, the water to which was supplied from underground aqueducts.
No less luxurious was the interior of the complex:
- unique mosaic floors;
- facing with marble;
- bubbling fountains;
- god statues.
Termi Diocleziano were favorite place recreation of the Romans. They performed not only the functions of baths, but were also a cozy place for communication, a center of public and cultural life Rome. Entrance was allowed to all free citizens. Fountains, marble sculptures were built on the territory of the baths of Diocletian, 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, men, women and children could visit the baths. The Romans came to the complex to rest carefree, relax, chat with each other or take a walk. More active citizens visited the Baths of Diocletian to play sports and wrestle.
Baths had several rooms for different types of procedures:
- taking cold baths in a cool room (frigidarium);
- 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 deteriorate, until in 1563, by decree of the pontiff Pius IV, the famous Michelangelo transformed the building. The cozy monastery courtyard, designed by the architect, now houses more than 400 exhibits from the time 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 world and consists of finds found in the 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 Renaissance style.
The Palazzo Altemps, in addition to the Baths of Diocletian, is one of the main objects of the National Museum of Rome. Here are 104 sculptures of the ancient era, collections belonging to the cardinals of Ludovisi, Altemps and the princes of Mattei. The palace was built according to the design of Melozzo da Forlì in the 15th century on the Champ de Mars near Piazza Navona.
Another remarkable hall was erected by the architect Camilo Pistrucci in 1883-1887. On the ground floor there is a numismatic collection, on the other three - antique painting, sculpture and mosaics. Especially memorable are the frescoes with painted birds, trees and flowers from the winter triclinium, which previously decorated the villa of Augustus's wife, Livia. The pride of the national museum are works from Villa Farnesina and sarcophagi. The Gall Ludovisi is also a must-see at the Baths of Diocletian in Rome. This is a marble copy of a large triumphal monument, which shows the scene when Gallus kills his wife. The sculpture is filled with expression and is made with full details of what is happening.
How to get to the Baths of Diocletian
The complex is located on Via Enrico de Nicola (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 (Termini) or Republic (Repubblica), and then walk a few hundred meters on foot. 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. Please note that the box office closes 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.
The baths of Diocletian, whose construction was completed in 303 AD, occupied an area of 13 hectares and could simultaneously accommodate 3,000 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 arranged here.
Today, little remains of the rich interior decoration of the premises, but still the Baths of Diocletian were lucky: their ruins were transformed into such masterpieces of architecture as the Basilica of Santa Maria degli Angeli, built by Michelangelo, and the church of San Bernardo alle Terme. Other restored rooms were transferred to the Roman National Museum, whose exposition contains an excellent collection of ancient sculptures.
Helpful information
Where are the Baths of Diocletian
The address of the Baths 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 No. 79. The landmark is the Termini railway station - the entrance to the Baths is just opposite it. The easiest way to get here is by metro, line T.
Working hours of the Diocletian thermae
The baths open at 9:00 and close at 19:45. Day off - Monday.
Entrance ticket price
The ruins of ancient Roman baths - the baths of Diocletian - were erected in the distant 298-305 AD. In modern Rome, these ancient baths belong to. In addition to the baths, the museum includes three more objects located separately: the Balbi crypt and.
History of the Baths of Diocletian
The Roman emperor Gaius Diocletian wanted to build the largest baths that no other could compare with. So there were baths, the total area of which, together with gardens, occupied about 13 hectares.
Since 537, after the destruction of the aqueduct by the Ostrogothic king Vitiges, the baths no longer functioned as intended.
In 1563, on behalf of Emperor Pius IV, Michelangelo carried out a large-scale reconstruction of the Diocletian Baths. So the term caldarium was reincarnated as a church dedicated to the Mother of God, angels and martyrs. The building of the Carthusian monastery was built. Thanks to such diligent reconstruction, these ancient Roman baths have survived to this day much better than others.
Baths of Diocletian could simultaneously accommodate up to 3 thousand people. Very extensive gardens were decorated with fountains and pavilions. On the territory there were halls for meetings and sports exercises, a library worked.
Museum at the Baths of Diocletian
Since 1889, a collection of Roman and Greek art has been located in the baths. In general, there is something to see and admire.
In the thermal museum you will see not only the masterpieces of Michelangelo, brought to life in the church and monastery, but also ancient statues, sarcophagi, reliefs, altars, tombs and much more.
How to get there
The Baths of Diocletian in Rome are located near the Republic Square. Opposite the main station of Rome Termini.
Working hours: The thermal museum can be visited from Tuesday to Sunday, from 9:00 to 19:30. The ticket price is 7 euros. Persons from 18 to 25 years old - 3.5 euros. On the first Sunday of each month, admission is free for visitors under 18. The ticket price includes visits to other sites. National Museum Rome. The ticket is valid for 3 days.
Baths of Diocletian ( Terme di Diocleziano) were built between 298 and 306, becoming the crowning achievement of the engineering thought of their time, and represented a colossal thermal complex with an area of more than 13,000 square meters. meters, the largest ever built in Rome. According to legend, they were built by Christians condemned to death.
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. main station Rome, Termini, also named after the baths of Diocletian.
The thermal facilities were located on 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 - a central axis with symmetrically located rooms.
1 - Caldarium, 2 - Tepidarium, 3 - Frigidarium, 4 - Pool, 5 - Palestra, 6 - Main entrance, 7 - Exedra The simple facades of the baths, covered with “marbled” plaster, were enlivened by scanty mosaic panels at the entrances. Such simplicity of decorative finishes and a gradual increase in volume towards the central hall emphasized the grandeur of the complex and distinguished it from places of worship. The absence of curvilinear rooms and, consequently, the diversity of interior forms is the influence of the East.
The Baths of Diocletian accommodated more than 3,000 visitors at a time. There were 3000 individual baths and three swimming pools with the purest water. Cold baths were in the frigidarium, warm baths in the tepidarium, and hot baths in the caldarium. The hottest room - 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 water. Water came through a diversion from the Marcius aqueduct.
The baths were open to all residents, including women and children, and were completely affordable. But even a modest entrance fee was often covered by the generosity of the emperor or some rich person, who took on 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 sorts of entertainment, feasts and other events were held within their walls. Here, for example, there was a library in which philosophical debates took place, and in the gymnasiums one could engage in sports games and physical exercises. In addition, here it was simply possible to get warm in winter and cool in summer.
The complex functioned until the 6th century and began to fall into disrepair and collapse with the advent of the Goths, who blocked the aqueducts to deprive the Romans of water. And only in the 16th century, under the guidance of the great 87-year-old sculptor and architect Michelangelo, a basilica was built on the ruins of the tepidarium, with the preservation of its walls. Santa Maria degli Angeli e dei Martiri,so named in honor of the Christian martyrs who died during the construction of the terms.
Basilica of Santa Maria degli Angeli e dei Martiri A number of rooms of the term became part of the museum, and one of the round lobbies was converted into another basilica -San Bernardo alle Terme.The remains of another such vestibule can be seen between Via Viminale and Piazza dei Cinquecento.
Basilica of San Bernardo alle Terme The decision to establish the National Roman Museum was made in 1889. Its section at the Baths of Diocletian was conceived as an introduction to the beginning of Roman history.The exposition of the museum is the very walls of the terms, antique sculptures, household items, weapons of the ancient Romans, Etruscans and other peoples inhabiting the Apennine Peninsula. The rarest exhibits are the sarcophagi of ancient and Christian Rome. An extensive epigraphic section demonstrates the emergence and development of the Latin language in various media from the period of the 8th century BC. - 4th century AD