The Rome IndexBaths of Diocletian
The largest bathing complex in ancient Rome — now partly a church, partly a museum.
What they were
Built between 298 and 306 AD, the Baths of Diocletian were the largest bathing complex in the Roman world, capable of accommodating over 3,000 bathers at once. The complex covered an area of around 13 hectares near what is now Termini station.
What survived
Michelangelo converted the central hall into the church of Santa Maria degli Angeli e dei Martiri in 1563 — the vast interior still gives a visceral sense of the original Roman scale. A branch of the National Roman Museum now occupies other sections, with a strong collection of inscriptions and pre-Roman artefacts.
Getting there
Five minutes on foot from Termini station, making it an easy stop on arrival or departure day. Often overlooked compared to the Baths of Caracalla — and correspondingly quieter.