Ancient site · Italy · Partial ruin

Baths of Caracalla

Terme di Caracalla

The Baths of Caracalla are a large Imperial Roman public bath complex in Rome, built under Septimius Severus and Caracalla and inaugurated circa AD 216. The complex contained bathing halls, gymnasia (palaestrae), libraries, and extensive service and waterworks. It remained in use into late antiquity and today survives as a large archaeological ruin and tourist site.

Recreate Ancient site to Explore →

Photograph via Wikimedia Commons

First raised

AD 216

Its prime

AD 216

Today

Partial ruin

As it stood in AD 216

What Baths of Caracalla looked like in its prime.

A vast rectangular brick-built complex with towering masonry walls, broad axial plan and a high central block covered by large vaults and domes. Exterior surfaces are predominantly warm red bricks; interiors were faced with pale marbles, porphyry columns and patterned mosaic floors. Rooflines in prime would be intact with large groin vaults and a domed caldarium, while broad open palaestrae and an outdoor natatio occupy the site’s northeast axis.

Step inside

11 places to explore in AD 216.

The record describes 11 distinct spots at Baths of Caracalla, including 6 interiors: frigidarium (central cold hall), tepidarium (warm rooms and double pool), caldarium (domed hot room) and more. Create your own photoreal reconstruction and explore every one, more scenes means more photos, more angles and more of the immersive experience.

South approach along the Via NovaOuter wall and cisterns (southern side)Western palaestra (exercise court)Eastern palaestra and exedraFrigidarium (central cold hall)Tepidarium (warm rooms and double pool)Caldarium (domed hot room)Natatio (open-air swimming pool)Surviving library interior (one of two libraries)Subterranean service passages and hypocaustOctagonal hall (Temple of Jupiter)

Build Your Own Castle