The thermae
dell’Indirizzo
are situated in
the ancient part of the city of Catania and it is best preserved
thermal building. They are some remains of a Roman thermal
complex dating back to the second century. In the middle of the
pescheria, the picturesque open-air market of fish, meat, fruit
and vegetables the mins of this thermal complex are visible.
They were named in this way referring to the adjacent church of
Madonna dell’Indirizzo, nowadays used as a school.
About 10 covered
rooms, the thermal system that consisted of furnaces to heat the
rooms, pipes and channels through which the water flowed, are
still visible. Until the late Roman age, going to the thermae
often was a healthy and pleasant habit for the Romans who lived
in Catania. The numerous thermal complexes proved the high
quality of life that characterized the city during the Imperial
Roman Age, from the first to the third century AD. The thermae
were public buildings for the body care. They were very popular
in Rome. The thermal buildings consisted of different rooms: the
laconicum, a hot room, the calidarium, a hot bath, the
trepidarium, a tepid room and the frigidarium, a cold bath.
The baths were
often-connected to the Gymnasium, where games and exercise took
place. In the laconium people went to sweat, and to clean skin
with oils, while, at the and, they plunged into the frigidarium
to strengthen their body. Thanks to the State and to private
funds, admission was usually free or very cheap.
Thermae
dell'Indirizzo: Via San Calogero.
T 095-7150508. Visit: on request.
