The Baths of Diocletian in Rome is a huge complex for water procedures. Baths of Diocletian, Rome

Therm Diocletian Museum   - This is one of the four buildings in which the National Museum of Rome is located. Other places are as follows: Palazzo Massimo alle Terme, Palazzo Altemps, Crypt Balbi. Post about the Palazzo Massimo alle Terme Museum, where, through the museum’s route, you can relive the history, myths and daily life in Rome.


Originally The Baths of Diocletian   represented the colossal thermal complex of the imperial era, built between 298 and 306 AD, which occupied an area of \u200b\u200bmore than 13,000 m2.


According to legend, the terms were built by Christians condemned to death. They accommodated more than 3,000 swimmers at a time, approximately twice the number of people for whom the terms of Caracalla were designed. Their construction took 10 years, compared with 5 years that went into the construction of the term Caracalla. At the baths there were three thousand bathtubs and three spacious pools with clean, clear water.

During the empire, the terms were open for men, as well as for women and children, and even a very modest fee in one quadrant was sometimes covered by the generosity of the emperor or some rich man who could bear the whole cost of visiting baths for a period of one day to one year. The Romans went to bathes to meet with others, take a walk and chat, some to play ball and other games, others to experience more intense physical activity, such as wrestling, or to see how others do it, and of course get cool in summer and warm in winter. Cold baths were in frigidaria - a cool room in the bath; there was also a warm room, or tepidarium, as well as a heated room, calidaria, where there were warm baths and hot steam to cause perspiration, as in our modern Turkish baths. The room is still hotter, laconic, used mostly by patients. The heat was provided by violent fire under the floor, kindled by slaves, using a large amount of wood.

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

Today it is the location of the National Museum of Rome, founded in 1898. Its archaeological heritage is one of the richest in the world, it comes from various collections, and partly consists of finds found in the terms. On the territory of the thermal complex, Michelangelo skillfully placed the Church of Santa Maria degli Angeli in the Renaissance style, which was requested 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, altars of donations).

The department of the museum in the Baths of Diocletian was conceived to familiarize with the beginning of Roman history.

It contains an extensive epigraphic section, demonstrating the emergence of the Latin language thanks to texts written in various media relating to the period from the VIII century BC. until the 4th century A.D.

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

National Museum of Rome, photo Richard Mortel

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

  • Palazzo Massimo
  • Crypt Balbi.

It is one of the best museums for the arrangement of expositions, organization of work, and convenience for visitors. The National Museum of Rome was created in 1889. It brought together numerous exhibits of the ancient period. The collection is based on the collection of the Kircheriano Museum, which in 1901 transferred to the collection of the Villa Ludovisi. At first, all the exhibits were in the premises of a former monastery in the territory of Therm Diocletian. In 1990, the museum was reformed, and the collection was dispersed over 4 objects. Today, the National Museum has one of the richest collections of ancient sculpture.

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 structure of the Carthusian monastery appeared. Since 1889, some premises of Term 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 telling about the development of the Roman state from ancient times. In the halls there are collections of inscriptions and sculptures.

Term of Diocletian: Viale Enrico de Nicola, 76, 00185 Roma,
  Website: www.coopculture.it.

Palace of massimo

Mosaic photo by David Morgan-Mar

Frescoes from the Libyan villa, photo by Devon D’Ewart

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

Seated boxer, photo @@@@@

"Sitting Boxer" - one of the masterpieces, a statue of the Hellenistic era of the 4th century. In addition to artistic merits, she is a model of metalworking.

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

Altemps Palace

Palazzo Altemps, mctl photo

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

Altemps Palace was erected by the design of Melozzo da Forlì for Girolamo Riario in the 15th century. on the Champ de Mars, next to

Throne of Ludovisi, photo edk7

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

Hall with the Pergamon sculpture group Suicide of the Gaul, photo M.Pardy

The Gall Ludovisi is a marble copy of the bronze group of a large triumphal monument, which was erected by Attalus I in the Pergamon temple of Athena c. 220-230 years. Gall 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 sarcophagus of “Grande Ludovisi” (II-III centuries), its height is 1.5 m.

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

Balby Crypts, photo by Christopher Mendes

The exposition of Crypta Balbi (Crypta Balbi) stores exhibits of archaeological excavations and is dedicated to the history of the development of Rome.

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

Working hours

VT-Sun from 09:00 to 19:45;

Mon day off.

Tickets

Entrance to one of the 4 museums - € 10.00; preferential - € 5.
  If the museum holds an exhibition, then the ticket costs - € 13.00; preferential - € 8.

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

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

Admission is free for children under 18
  Every first Sunday of the month - admission is free.

Buy tickets in advance online:

  Buy a ticket →

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Unfortunately, from the many ancient sights of the capital of Italy there are only ruins, but even that which has been preserved and restored amazes tourists with its scale. The Baths of Diocletian - the so-called ancient Roman public baths. This is a whole complex of structures, equal in size and technical equipment in the empire has never been.

The history of the creation of the term Diocletian in Rome

By order of the emperor Diocletian, the construction of baths in the "eternal city" began in 298. Seven years later, the complex was completely finished and consecrated in honor of Caesar. The facilities were located on a vast territory of 13 hectares and could simultaneously accommodate about three thousand visitors. The Roman baths of Diocletian included three thousand baths and three large pools, into which water was supplied from underground aqueducts.

No less luxurious was the interior of the complex:

  • unique mosaic floors;
  • marble cladding;
  • babbling fountains;
  • statues of the gods.

Termi Diocleziano was a favorite vacation spot of the Romans. They performed not only the functions of baths, but also were a cozy place for communication, a hotbed of social and cultural life of Rome. Entrance was allowed for all free citizens. On the territory of the Diocletian term fountains, marble sculptures were built, gardens with pavilions were laid out. There were also meeting rooms, a library, an amphitheater and a gymnasium.

According to the legend, the terms of Diocletian in Rome were built by Christians condemned to death and it took 10 years to build the complex. During the Roman Empire, baths could be visited by men, women and children. The Romans came to the complex to relax carefree, relax, chat with each other or take a walk. More active citizens visited the baths of Diocletian to play sports, engage in wrestling.

Baths had several rooms for various types of procedures:

  • taking cold baths in a cool room (frigidaria);
  • hot, like modern saunas;
  • warm, for pre-heating the body.

In the mid-16th century, the Goths destroyed the Roman aqueduct, and the baths of Diocletian fell into disrepair. Over time, the complex began to decay, until in 1563, by decree of Pope Pius IV, the famous Michelangelo converted the structure. The cozy monastery courtyard, designed by the architect, now houses more than 400 exhibits from the time of imperial Rome and many ancient sculptures.

The terms of Diocletian is currently

At the end of the 19th century, part of the complex was reconstructed. Currently, the National Museum of Rome is located in this part of the term Diocletian. Its archaeological heritage is considered one of the richest in the whole world and consists of finds found in the terms, as well as various collections of Roman and Greek art. In the bathhouses, Michelangelo harmoniously located the Church of Santa Maria degli Angeli, built in the Renaissance style.

Palazzo Altemps Palace, in addition to the Term Diocletian, is one of the main objects of the National Museum of Rome. Here are 104 sculptures of the ancient era, collections belonging to the cardinals of Ludovisi, Altemps and the princes of Mattei. The palace was built by the design of Melozzo da Forlì in the 15th century on the Field of Mars near Piazza Navona.

Another wonderful palace was erected by the architect Camilo Pistrucci in 1883-1887. On the ground floor there is a numismatic collection, on the other three - antique painting, sculpture and mosaic. Particularly memorable are the frescoes with painted birds, trees and flowers from the winter triclinium that previously adorned the villa of the wife of Augustus, Libya. The pride of the national museum is considered to be works from Villas Farnesin and sarcophagi. The “Gall of Ludovisi” is also a must-see in the terms of Diocletian in Rome. This is a marble copy of a large triumphal monument, which demonstrates the scene when Gall kills his wife. The sculpture is filled with expression and made with full details of what is happening.

How to get into the baths of Diocletian

The complex is located on Via Enrico de Nicola (Enrico De Nicola). The most convenient way to get into the baths of Diocletian is to use the subway. You should leave at one of the stations - Termini (Termini) or the Republic (Repubblica), and then walk a few hundred meters. Another option to get to the ancient Roman baths is to take a bus (there are several routes) to the stop Cernaia.

Visiting the term Diocletian in Rome for tourists is possible on any day except Monday. Opening hours from 9.00 to 19.45. It should be noted that the ticket office closes half an hour before the end of the complex. Not far from the ancient Roman baths is the baroque church of Santa Maria della Vittoria, which will also be attractive to tourists.

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

History of the term Diocletian

The Roman emperor Guy Diocletian wanted to build the largest baths that no others could compare with. So there were baths, the total area of \u200b\u200bwhich together with 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 conducted a large-scale reconstruction of the Diocletian term. So the term caldaria was reincarnated as a church dedicated to the Virgin, angels and martyrs. The Carthusian monastery building was erected. Thanks to such diligent reconstruction, these ancient Roman baths have survived to this day much better than others.

The 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 was working.

Museum in the Baths of Diocletian

Since 1889, a collection of Roman and Greek art has been located in the baths. In general, there is something to see and something to admire.

In the term museum you will see not only Michelangelo’s masterpieces embodied 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 the main station of Rome Termini.

Working hours: Therma Museum can be visited from Tuesday to Sunday, from 9:00 to 19:30. Ticket price is 7 euros. Persons from 18 to 25 years old - 3.5 euros. On the first Sunday of each month, admission is free for visitors under 18 years of age. The ticket price includes a visit to the rest of the National Museum of Rome. The ticket is valid for 3 days.