For centuries ancient Romans have built roads and bridges connecting all of their conquered territories, triumphal arches celebrating their victories, aqueducts supplying water to the new settlements. Alongside their military achievements they also built squares, villas, theaters, and – last but not least – public baths: in other words, they also knew very well how to best enjoy life. It is said that a Roman Emperor himself – when asked why did he bathe as much as once a day – said that unfortunately he did not have the time to indulge in such pleasure more frequently.

The Roman baths (or thermae, as they were called back then in Latin) were more than pioneering sanitary facilities: they were a most important community gathering place. Let’s take a plunge into the Roman era by visiting the Baths of Caracalla, one of the largest and best-preserved imperial bath complex in the Eternal City.