The Achillean
Thermae,
the remains of the monumental complex of public baths, are
beneath "Piazza Duomo". Its underground bounds underlie almost
all the buildings established on the surface: the "Cathedral
Church", the former seat of the "Clerics' Seminary", the
"Elephant's Fountain", the "Archbishop's See" and the bordering
angles of the "Senatorial Palace".
The thermae's
access is made easier by a little adit opening on the right side
of Saint Agatha's front. Through the use of a modern stairs, the
visitors can pass across a 2,50 m barrel-vaulted corridor .This
passageway guides in its innermost part, a large rectangular
measuring 12x13m, formed by a wide hall with four pillars
supporting the vaults. In past times these old columns were
bedecked with stuccoes representing handful of younkers and
bacchantes, animals and clusters of grapes. The most part of
these beautiful decorations have been irremediably lost along
the centuries.
The adjective "Achillean"
is attested by a Greek inscription, recovered in pieces in
different periods. It furnishes the current denomination and it
describes the complessive remaking works and the contemporary
repairing of the heating's distribution system. The exact
datation of the real edification is still unknown. They were
supplied by the nearby waters of the Amenanus which keeps
running in the thereabouts.
With regard to
the name, many scholars uphold that its main entrance contained
a marble reproduction of Achilles towering above the regular
patrons. But probably, the most correct explication is motivated
instead for the presence along the inward perimeter of
lance-armed statues of muscled nude men that were apostrophed as
the "Achilleae Statues".
The Achillean
Thermae: piazza Duomo
visit guided: from monday at friday h, 9.00 - 12.00 and h.16 - 19.00; saturday
h 9,00 h.12.00. Closed sunday and festivity. Entrance:
free
