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 of the engineering thought of 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 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 procedures from 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 a complex design of the water supply system connected to the outlet of the Marcius aqueduct.

The townspeople (and all free citizens were allowed to enter) 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

Bathing in warm water, rich in mineral salts, has been considered a curative activity 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 water was heated by the sun's rays, while the water in the shaded areas remained cool. Roman doctors 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 is 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 to 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 baths and the museum - use 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 have 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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Diocletian's Baths Museum is one of the four buildings that house the National Roman Museum. Other places are as follows: Palazzo Massimo alle Terme, Palazzo Altemps, Crypt Balbi... Post about the Museum of Palazzo Massimo alle Terme, where, through the route of the museum, you can relive history, myths and everyday life in Rome.


Initially Baths of Diocletian was a colossal imperial thermal complex built between 298 and 306 AD, which covered an area of \u200b\u200bmore than 13,000 m2.


According to legend, the baths were built by Christians condemned to death. They accommodated over 3,000 bathers at a time, approximately twice the number of people for which the Baths of Caracalla were designed. It took 10 years to build them, compared to 5 years that took to build the Caracalla baths. The thermal baths had three thousand baths and three spacious swimming pools with clean, transparent water.

During the time of the empire, the baths were open to men, as well as to women and children, and even a very modest payment in one quadrant was sometimes covered by the generosity of the emperor or some rich man who could take the entire cost of visiting the baths for a period of one year. The Romans went to thermal baths to meet others, take walks and chat, some to play ball and other games, others to experience more intense physical activity, such as wrestling, or to watch others do it, and of course get some coolness. in summer and warm in winter. The cold baths were in the frigidaria — the cool room in the bathhouse; there was also a warm room, or tepidarium, and a heated room, a calidarium, where there were warm baths and hot steam to induce perspiration, as in our modern Turkish baths. The room was even hotter, laconic, used mostly by patients. The heat was provided by a furious fire under the floor, kindled by slaves, using a large number wood.

Bathers could enjoy any or all of them in turn and in any other order. Now there is little left of the former glory of the term, but they still excite our impressions. The same feelings are overwhelmed at the sight.

Today it is the seat of the Roman National Museum, founded in 1898. Its archaeological heritage is one of the richest in the world, it comes from various collections and partly consists of finds from the thermal baths. On the territory of the thermal complex, Michelangelo skillfully placed the Church of Santa Maria degli Angeli in the Renaissance style, which was desired by Pope Pius IV in 1561.

In the monastery courtyard created by Michelangelo, more than 400 sculptures of all types belonging to Roman masters are exhibited (architectural finds, marble groups and statues, sarcophagi, altar of donations).

A branch of the museum at the Baths of Diocletian was conceived to familiarize with the beginning of Roman history.

It contains an extensive epigraphic section showing the emergence of the Latin language thanks to texts written in various media dating from the 8th century BC. until the 4th century A.D.

National Museum Rome is one of the main centers of the historical and artistic culture of a united Italy. Here is an amazing collection of ancient sculptures, mosaics, frescoes, coins. The museum is not popular with tourists, but in vain.

National Museum of Rome, photo by Richard Mortel

The National Roman Museum (Museo Nazionale Romano) is a complex of four sites dedicated to Roman history:

  • Palazzo Massimo,
  • Balbi's Crypt.

It is one of the best museums in terms of exposition arrangement, organization of work, and convenience for visitors. The National Museum of Rome was established in 1889. It brought together numerous exhibits from the ancient period. The basis of the collection is the collection of the Kircheriano Museum, to which the collection of Villa Ludovisi was transferred in 1901. At first, all the exhibits were located in the premises of the former monastery on the territory of the Terme of Diocletian. In 1990, the museum was reformed, and the collection was dispersed across 4 sites. Today the National Museum has one of the richest collections of antique sculptures.

Palazzo Massimo

Crypt Balbi

Baths of Diocletian, photo by HEN-Magonza

The Baths of Diocletian (Terme di Diocleziano) are the ruins of ancient Roman baths not far from. They were erected in 298 - 305. In 537 the Goths destroyed the aqueduct and the baths ceased to exist. In 1561 Pius IV commissioned Michelangelo to reconstruct the territory of the term. The Caldarius was rebuilt into the Church of Santa Maria degli Angeli e dei Martiri; the building of the monastery of the Cartesians appeared. Since 1889, some of the premises of the Baths of Diocletian have been occupied by the historical part of the collection of the National Museum of Rome with a collection of Greek and Roman art. On three floors, there are various artifacts that tell about the development of the Roman state from ancient times. The halls display collections of inscriptions and sculptures.

The address of the Baths of Diocletian: Viale Enrico de Nicola, 76, 00185 Roma,
Website: www.coopculture.it.

Massimo Palace

Mosaic, photo by David Morgan-Mar

Frescoes from Villa Libya, photo by Devon D'Ewart

Palazzo Massimo alle Terme was built in 1883-1887. by the architect Camilo Pistrucci. The numismatic collection is located in the basement. Two floors of the palace are occupied by a collection of antique sculptures, on the third - mosaics and antique paintings. The frescoes on which trees, flowers and birds are painted from the winter triclinium from the villa of Augustus' wife, Libya, are remembered. The frescoes of Villa Farnezina are considered the pride of the museum. There are sarcophagi in the halls.

Seated boxer, photo @@@@@

"Seated Boxer" - one of the masterpieces, a statue of the Hellenistic era of the 1st century. In addition to artistic merit, it is an example of metalworking.

Massimo Palace address: Largo di Villa Peretti, 2, 00185 Roma,
Website: www.museonazionaleromano.beniculturali.it.

Altemps Palace

Palazzo Altemps, photo by mctl

In the Palazzo Altemps there are collections of art objects: the collection of Cardinal Ludovisi, consisting of 104 sculptures from the antique period; Egyptian collection, collections of Princes Mattei and Austrian Cardinal Altemps.

The Altemps Palace was built according to the project of Melozzo da Forli for Girolamo Riario in the 15th century. on the Champ de Mars, next to

Throne of Ludovisi, photo edk7

The throne from the Ludovisi collection is a masterpiece of 5th century Greek art. It was part of the altar of the Temple of Aphrodite at Locri. On the central bas-relief of the throne, we see Aphrodite being born from the foam of the sea.

Hall with the Pergamon sculptural group "Gall's Suicide", photo by M.Pardy

Gall Ludovisi is a marble replica of the bronze group of a large triumphal monument erected by Attal I in the Pergamon temple of Athena ca. 220-230 biennium Gallus kills himself and his wife. The sculpture is made with detailed detail and expression.

Sarcophagus "Grande Ludovisi", photo by GianJames

Another masterpiece of the Ludovisi collection is the Grande Ludovisi sarcophagus (2nd-3rd centuries), its height is 1.5 m.

Altemps Palace Address: Piazza di Sant'Apollinare, 46, 00186 Roma,
Website: www.museonazionaleromano.beniculturali.it.

Balbi Crypts, photo by Christopher Mendes

The Crypta Balbi exposition contains archaeological artifacts and is dedicated to the history of the development of Rome.

Address of Crypt Balbi: Via delle Botteghe Oscure, 31, 00186 Roma,
Website: www.museonazionaleromano.beniculturali.it.

Working hours

TUE-SUN from 09:00 to 19:45;

Mon day off.

Tickets

Entrance to one of the 4 museums - € 10.00; concessionary - € 5.
If the museum is holding an exhibition, then the ticket costs - € 13.00; concessional - € 8.

The combined ticket includes admission to all museums (Baths of Diocletian, Massimo and Altemps palaces, Balbi crypt) and is valid for 3 days.
The total cost of the combined ticket is € 12.00; concessionary - € 6.
If exhibitions are held, the combined ticket costs € 15.00; concessional - € 9.

When buying an online ticket on the website, the cost increases by € 2.

Admission is free up to 18 years old.
Every first Sunday of the month - admission is free.

Buy tickets online in advance:

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The ruins of the ancient Roman baths - the baths of Diocletian - were built in the distant 298-305 AD. In modern Rome, these ancient terms belong to. In addition to the baths, the museum includes three more objects located separately: the crypt of Balbi and.

The history of Diocletian's baths

The Roman Emperor Gaius Diocletian wanted to build the largest baths with which no other could compare. So the baths appeared, total area which, together with the 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 caldarium therm was reincarnated into a church dedicated to the Mother of God, angels and martyrs. The building of the Carthusian monastery was erected. 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 in Baths of Diocletian

Since 1889, the bath houses a collection of Roman and Greek art. Overall, there is something to see and admire.

In the Thermal Museum, you will see not only Michelangelo's masterpieces, 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 next to the Republic Square. Opposite Rome's main station, Termini.

Working hours: The Baths 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 every month, admission is free for visitors under 18. The ticket price includes visits to the rest of the sites of the National Museum of Rome. The ticket is valid for 3 days.