Baths of Caracalla

Located a short distance from the Circus Maximus, the Baths of Caracalla, which were built in the early 3^rd century AD, were among the Empire’s largest public bathing complexes. The surviving brick walls, some measuring 90 feet in height, were clad in marble, granite and frescoes—fitting surfaces for an opulent public project. The baths were a social destination for Romans of all classes and featured hot, lukewarm and cold rooms, each visited in a ritual order to guarantee hygiene and maximum relaxation. Abandoned in the 6^th century AD, the baths fell into ruin and were looted over successive centuries, a fact that does not diminish their grandeur. Today, their hulking walls form the backdrop for the Rome Opera’s summer season.