Baths of Caracalla
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[[Image:BathsOfCaracalla.jpg|thumb|right|300px|The Baths of Caracalla, in 2003]]
[[Image:Caraca.JPG|thumb|right|300px|The Baths of Caracalla on 'Notte Bianca', 2006]]
The '''Baths of Caracalla''' were [[Ancient Rome|Roman]] public baths, or ''[[thermae]]'', built in [[Rome]] between AD 212 and 216, during the reign of the [[Caracalla|Emperor Caracalla]]. The extensive ruins of the baths have become a popular tourist attraction.
The bath complex covered approximately 13 hectares (33 ac). The bath building was 228 meters (750 ft) long, 116 meters (380 ft) wide and 38.5 meters (125 ft) estimated height, and could hold an estimated 1,600 bathers.<ref name=roth>{{cite book | first=Leland M. | last=Roth | year=1993 | title=Understanding Architecture: Its Elements, History and Meaning | edition=First | publisher=Westview Press | location=Boulder, CO | id=ISBN 0-06-430158-3 | pages=}}</ref>
The Caracalla bath complex of buildings was more a leisure centre than just a series of baths. The "baths" were the second to have a public [[library]] within the complex. Like other public libraries in Rome, there were two separate and equal sized rooms or buildings; one for Greek language texts and one for Latin language texts.
The baths consisted of a central 55.7 by 24 meter (183x79 ft) ''[[frigidarium]]'' (cold room) under three 32.9 meter (108 ft) high [[groin vault]]s, a double pool ''[[tepidarium]]'' (medium), and a 35 meter (115 ft) diameter ''[[caldarium]]'' (hot room), as well as two [[palaestra]]s (gyms where wrestling and boxing was practiced). The north end of the bath building contained a ''natatio'' or swimming pool. The ''natatio'' was roofless with bronze mirrors mounted overhead to direct sunlight into the pool area. The entire bath building was on a 6 meter (20 ft) high raised platform to allow for storage and furnaces under the building.<ref name=roth/>
The libraries were located in [[Exedra|exedrae]] on the east and west sides of the bath complex. The entire north wall of the complex was devoted to shops. The reservoirs on the south wall of the complex were fed with water from the [[Aqua Marcia|Marcian Aqueduct]].<ref name=roth/>
[[Image:Caracalla-Grundriss.jpg|200px|thumb|left|Reconstruction of the floorplan of the bath complex.]]
The building was heated by a [[hypocaust]], a system of burning coal and wood underneath the ground to heat water provided by a dedicated aqueduct. It was in use up to the 19th century.
In the early 20th century, the design of the baths was used as the inspiration for several modern structures, including [[Pennsylvania Station (New York City)|Pennsylvania Station]] in [[New York City]], USA and [[Jatiyo Sangshad Bhaban|National Assembly Building]] in [[Dhaka]], [[Bangladesh]].
[[Image:Roma-Terme di caracalla2.jpg|200px|right|thumb|A section of the complex mosaic floor tiling found in the baths.]]
The baths are open to the public for an admission fee of 6 Euros, which does not apply to students or pensioners from the EU. Access is limited to certain areas to avoid damage to the mosaic floors, although such damage is already clearly visible. Also, a total of 22 well-preserved columns looted from the ruins are found in the church of [[Santa Maria in Trastevere]], taken there in the 12th century.
==References ==
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==External links==
{{commons|Thermae of Caracalla}}
*[http://www.historychannel.com/rome/ History Channel website for ''ROME: Engineering an Empire''] Take the video tour and see the Flash presentation on the Baths. Also see the Video Gallery for a short movie on the Baths.
*[http://www.compart-multimedia.com/virtuale/us/roma/baths_of_caracalla.htm Baths of Caracalla] Virtual 360° panorama and photos of the ruins.
{{coor title d|41.879444|N|12.493056|E|type:landmark_region:IT}}
*[http://www.rome-guide.it/english/monuments/monuments_caracalla.html Caracalla Thermal Baths]
{{Rome landmarks}}
[[Category:Severan Dynasty]]
[[Category:Ancient Roman baths in Rome|Caracalla]]
[[Category:3rd century architecture]]
[[Category:Ruins in Italy]]
[[Category:Ancient Roman baths]]
[[Category:Ancient Roman architecture]]
[[bg:Баните на Каракала]]
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[[es:Termas de Caracalla]]
[[eo:Banejoj de Karakalo]]
[[fr:Thermes de Caracalla]]
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[[it:Terme di Caracalla]]
[[he:מרחצאות קרקלה]]
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[[nl:Thermen van Caracalla]]
[[ja:カラカラ浴場]]
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[[ru:Термы Каракаллы]]
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[[zh:卡拉卡拉浴场]]