The Roman Emperor Caracalla built baths (thermae [see Bath Terms]) for the public on a grand scale. The bath complex known as Thermae Antoninianae (Latin for the Baths of Caracalla), built between A.D. 212 and 216 (although the porticoes were completed later), covered about 13 hectares and could probably accommodate 1,600 bathers. It was built on a man-made terrace near the Via Appia 'Appian Way'.
The baths included:
- a hot bath (caldarium),
- a warm bath (tepidarium),
- the cold bath (frigidarium), and
- a swimming pool (natatio).
During the earthquake in northern Italy on April 6, 2009, this popular tourist attraction suffered damage.
