Terme Taurine (Taurine Baths), Civitavecchia

Terme Taurine, also known as the Taurine Baths, is a large elaborate ancient Roman baths complex located about 4 km east of the city of Civitavecchia. They are also known as the Baths of Trajan as they may form part of Trajan's villa of Centumcellae nearby, due to their enormous size relative to the town and to their elaborate marble decoration. The limits of the site have yet to be explored which may clarify their history. The baths are now in an archaeological park. Terme Taurine was first established on a hill overlooking Civitavecchia during the Roman Republican era in 86 BC. They were built over thermal sulphurous springs a few km from the later port of Centumcellae developed by Trajan (r. 98 to 117 AD). They were also about 1 km from the earlier baths of the settlement of Aquae Tauri. The complex was greatly expanded by Roman emperors Trajan and Hadrian (r. 117 - 138) from 123 to 136. The baths became a popular stop-over site for visitors to the nearby port. It may have been named after Titus Statilius Taurus, prefect of Rome and builder of the first amphitheatre there, who fought with Augustus at Actium and had a patron role. Commodus upon finding his bathwater lukewarm while visiting Terme Taurine ordered the stoker to be thrown into the furnace although a sheep skin was secretly substituted to replicate the burnt smell. Roman Poet Rutilius Claudius Namatianus visited the baths in 416 and described them in his travelogue. The site has two separate large baths areas: the republican and the later imperial baths. The baths featured changing rooms, and hot and cold pools. Several of these pools and the mosaics adorning them can still be visited.

The Terme Taurine, also known as Terme di Traiano, constitute an important archaeological site and one of the most important thermal complexes of the Roman age. The name comes from the Latin term taurus, from the name of an ancient bull which, according to an ancient tradition, caused gushes of hot sulphurous water to arise by scrabbling in the ground. The first to exploit its waters were the Etruscans, who built rudimentary baths, which in turn were developed and expanded only in Roman times. The spa area was considerably frequented throughout the imperial age until the decline of the empire. Subsequently, the complex was completely abandoned. Today, the water no longer flows in the Terme Taurine archaeological park, but if you want to appreciate the therapeutic properties of its warm waters, we recommend that you visit the nearby Ficoncella spa complex.

The Taurine Baths of Civitavecchia, also known as Baths of Trajan, are a remarkable archeological site located in the northern area of the city. Among the ruins there are tanks, massage rooms and different environments, all decorated with friezes, mosaics and marbles. Are you ready to immerse yourself in Ancient Rome?

About 3 miles (5 km) from the city center, you have to take a bus, taxi, or rent a car to reach Terme Taurine. The complex has Roman thermal baths. These structures were built on hot sulfur spring water which flowed there once upon a time. However, now it is completely dry. You can see some well-preserved mosaic tiles, bathing areas, and massage rooms. According to archaeological evidence, some of the baths were built close to the 1st century BC whereas others were built by emperor Hadrian from 123 to 136 AD. If you wish to see and relax in hot sulfur water springs, very close to the complex is Terme della Ficoncella which offers relaxing spa and wellness treatments. ***PH***