The therma called terme della Rotonda are found in the same area where the
Roman theatre and the odeon are situated. they were build during
the first centuries of the Roman Empire.Only a round
room, covered with a dome, remain of the old thermae.
Inside,
among the walls supporting the dome, there are eight niches
where hot, cold and tepid water flowed into the decorated marble
baths, in the sixth century AD the structure was transformed
into a Christian chuech. The level of the floor was raised, and
the artars and the chapels took the place of the thermal baths.Until the late Roman
Age, going to the thermea 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 thermea were
public buildings for for the body care. They were very popular
in Rome. The biggest thermal buildings consisted of different
rooms: the loconicum. a hot room, the calidarium , a hot bath,
the tepidarium, 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 laconicum
people went to swear, and to clean their skin with oils, while,
at the end, they plunged into the frididarium to strengthen
their body. Thanks to the State
and to private funds, admission was free or very cheap
Terme della Rotonda:
Via della Rotonda. T 095-7472264. Visit: h. 9.00 - 13.30
on request. Entrance: free.
