The Baths of Caracalla are the vast ruins of one of ancient Rome's great public bathing complexes, built in the early 3rd century under Emperor Caracalla. The brick walls still rise to a dizzying height, and walking through the Baths of Caracalla gives a far stronger sense of the scale of Roman building than most sites in the city, usually without the crowds of the Forum.
Why visit the Baths of Caracalla
Roman baths were much more than places to wash. They were social centres, with exercise yards, hot and cold rooms, swimming pools, gardens and libraries, and the public came here to meet friends, talk business and relax. The Baths of Caracalla could hold well over a thousand bathers at a time and remained in use for around three centuries, until the aqueduct supplying them was cut during the 6th century.
The decoration was lavish. Many of the statues found here during the Renaissance, including the colossal Farnese Bull and Farnese Hercules, are now in the National Archaeological Museum in Naples. What remains on site is the architecture itself, with large areas of mosaic floor.
Getting to the Baths of Caracalla by metro
The nearest station is Circo Massimo on Line B, at the eastern end of the Circus Maximus. From the station, walk south along Viale delle Terme di Caracalla, a wide tree-lined avenue, to the entrance. It takes around ten minutes.
- Line B links directly with Termini and with Colosseo, one stop away.
- It is also a pleasant walk from the Colosseum, about 20 minutes past the Circus Maximus.
The avenue is busy with traffic, but the pavement is shaded in places.
Tickets and opening times
Entry is paid and is not covered by the standard Colosseum ticket. The site is managed by the Soprintendenza Speciale di Roma, whose official website lists current prices, opening hours and any closing day. Hours are shorter in winter and the site usually closes in the early evening. As with most state sites in Italy, there may be free days or reduced prices for certain visitors.
Some parts, such as the underground service tunnels, have been opened at times for guided or special visits, so check whether anything extra is available when you book.
Best time to visit and how long to stay
The site is large and partly open to the sun, so in summer go in the morning, wear a hat and carry water. In spring and autumn the gardens around the ruins are pleasant to walk through. Allow one and a half to two hours to explore at a relaxed pace, and longer if you like to sit and take in the space. The ground is mostly level, which makes the site easier on the feet than the hilly Forum and Palatine.
Highlights to look for
The caldarium
The hot room was a huge circular hall topped with a dome. Today only parts of its walls stand, but its outline gives an idea of how big the space was.
The frigidarium and natatio
The cold room and the open-air swimming pool were at the centre of the complex. Stand in the middle and look up at the remaining arches to imagine the vaulted ceilings.
The mosaics
Large sections of black and white and coloured geometric mosaic survive on the floors of the gymnasiums at either end. Some fallen fragments of upper floors lie where they collapsed.
The summer opera
Each summer the Teatro dell'Opera di Roma traditionally stages opera, ballet and concerts on a stage set against the ruins of the caldarium. An evening performance here is one of Rome's great summer experiences. Programmes and tickets are announced on the opera house's official website.
Nearby on the same metro stop
Circo Massimo station also puts these places within walking distance:
- Circus Maximus: the ancient chariot racing track, right beside the station.
- The Aventine Hill: the Orange Garden viewpoint and the famous keyhole view of St Peter's dome.
- The Palatine Hill: the emperors' hill, overlooking the Circus Maximus.
- The Appian Way: the start of the ancient road lies to the south, best reached by bus or bike.
Discover more around this station on the Baths of Caracalla on Around the Metro, or browse the full Rome metro map.