At the moment of finishing in 3rd century Baths of Emperor Antonius Caracalla were the largest ones in Rome, capable of hosting about 1,600 bathers.[Diocletian's Bath were just to be built].
The huge building featured massive 30 m high walls, but rather simply exterior. The interior, on contrary, was extremely rich, white marbles,gilded stuccos, walls and floors paved with mosaics, Greek library, Roman library art galleries and green gardens were making the Baths a real leisure centre.
Terme di Caracalla
Near the entrance was the swimming pool (natatio) under the open air used ath the end of bathing rituals. On both sides of the pool were changing rooms (apodyterium) from them bathers went to gymnasium (palaestra) to warm the body with physical games and excercises. Perspiring after the excercise people came to (laconicum) the oval room similar to Turk bath, where heat induced even more perspiration.
The next room (caldarium) was the hottest one in Terme, with heated floor and small pool of water. Then the bathers passed to mild bath (tepidarium) and the cold one (frigidarium).
After the frigidarium you would go to the swimming pool, or the central area to walk along the gardens, talk or read the books from libraries.
Romans used these facilities daily at the end of the work and quite often stayed there till the close time. Baths were opened for everybody, rich and poor, and they
The Baths of Caracalla lasted for about 300 years, until the Goths destroyed aqueducts which supplied water to Rome.
The excavations from 16th and 19th/20th centuries uncovered the statues and mosaics , which nicest part was removed and placed inside of Palazzo Farnese.
Still the remain mosaics are worth seeing as well as the impressive bath walls, used to host summer concerts, which future is uncertain, because the singing voices and music may damage the remaining structures.
[photo courtesy of teldridge+keldridge]
