Terme di Caracalla

An imperial bath complex on three descending terraces. The Soprintendenza Speciale di Roma describes a rectangular outer precinct, holding two symmetrical libraries on the south side, latrines east and west and the cisterns, enclosing a central block laid out on a single axis: calidarium, tepidarium, frigidarium and the natatio, which was open to the sky, with two palestre and the changing rooms symmetrically east and west and an upper floor over the palestre used for depilation and massage. The main entrances were on the north front, over tabernae opening onto the via Nova. About two kilometres of underground galleries run beneath, carrying the furnaces and boilers, a water plant, a mill and a Mithraeum with its fossa sanguinis. The Soprintendenza gives the hours as closed Monday; 1 to 28 March 9.00 to 17.30, last admission 16.30; 29 March to 31 August 9.00 to 19.15, last admission 18.00; 1 to 30 September 9.00 to 19.00, last admission 18.00; 1 to 25 October 9.00 to 18.30, last admission 17.30; 26 October to 28 February 9.00 to 16.30, last admission 15.30. Tickets are nominative and are sold only through the Musei Italiani portal, the Musei Italiani app, or the ticket desks and automatic totems on site. The Soprintendenza states that additional services such as guided visits or skip-the-line are not offered. Site telephone 348 7964477; the responsabile is Dott. Rocco Bochicchio.