Not much remains of the Baths of Titus in Rome other than some ruins next to what is now the Parco del Colle Oppio. The public baths built by Emperor Titus had been inaugurated at the same time as the Colosseum in the year 80.
Baths of Titus Rome
Useful information
Address: Via delle Terme di Tito – Rome (District: Monti). Opening times and entrance fee: The monument can only be seen from outside. Address: Via delle Terme di Tito . Public transportation: Metro: Colosseo (line B). Name in Italian: Terme di Tito.
History and description
It is believed that for the construction of the Baths of Titus, part of Nero’s Domus Aurea was converted. This is in line with the Flavius’ family’s policy of returning the properties appropriated by Nero to the Roman people. Indeed, the people of Rome were quite outraged by the excessive luxury Nero allowed himself.
Like other thermal baths, they ceased to be used after the Gothic War (mid-6th century) and fell into disrepair, although Andrea Palladio was still able to draw out the ground plan in the 16th century. (Until the end of the 19th century it was even thought that the Baths of Titus were part of the Baths of Trajan.)
At present, only some portions of pillars remain, partly caused by the fact that parts of the ruins were used in 1590 to build the side chapels of the Chiesa del Gesù.
The Baths of Titus measured about 120 by 105 meters, but paled into insignificance compared to the Baths of Trajan built a century later. About half of this area (on the south side) was an open space.
The entrance was on the north side, while on the south side a wide staircase led to what is now Piazza del Colosseo. The building was surrounded by colonnades.
In the 18th century, Nicholas Ponce made copies of the original wall paintings by Famullus.
The large granite bathtub seen on the Cortile di Belvedere of the Musei Vaticani was excavated here. In the Sala Rotonda of the same museum there is also a bathtub found at the Terme di Tito.