Pompeii - December 30, 2011 - Forum Baths

Frigidarium, cold bath

Ceiling of the tepidarium, warm bath

The forum baths are near, you guessed it, the forum.  It really easy to miss as it lacks the grandeur and size of the late second century baths in Rome. The entrance is actually down a small passageway from a normal looking door in the wall.

The interior is remarkably well preserved with the tepidarium and the caldarium being the most incredible.

There was a crowd of people at the entrance to the frigidarium and I almost didn't go over and look. Glad I did though, the interplay of the circles and arches is quite lovely. 

Cold water fountain in the caldarium

Barrel vaulted caldarium

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Detail of the plasterwork in the tepidarium

 

Rome - December 29, 2011 - Baths of Trajan

Arch from Baths of
Trajan

From the Church of Santi Silvestro (AKA San Martini ai Monti) we walked a little south. Even knowing we had our train tickets in hand, I was still freaked out because I don’t like to be late for anything, and missing a train just seems like a mini-disaster to me.

Then we found a park where a few people were walking dogs and then I saw it. Rising up out of the shrubbery like a mottled aged phoenix, that baths of Trajan...I really never thought I would see this magnificent ruin, but thanks to Mike’s wanderlust and ability to spot something shiny at 10,000 paces I did.

The detail in the brickwork brought to mind the Pantheon and Santa Maria degli Angeli e di Martini, which sort of gives an impression of what each of these excedras would have been like back in their prime. 

Excedra with niches and coffered ceiling, baths of Trajan