Baths of Diocletian

The baths were built between 298 and 306 by Maxentius who had the complex named after Diocletian, an emperor who has been cast in a bad light by religious historians for his persecution of Christians but in fact was actually a very capable and fair ruler.

The baths covered an area of more than 11 hectare (27 acres) and was the largest of the approximately 900 bath houses in Rome. The enclosed complex was structured similarly to the Baths of Trajan and Baths of Caracalla, with a central axis around which the actual baths were located. Water was led to a large water basin via the Aqua Iovia, a branch of the Aqua Marcia. The water basin was situated near the current Termini train station, which derived its name from the thermae.

After invading Goths destroyed the aqueduct in the fourth century, the baths were soon reduced to ruins. Later the remains of the complex had to make way for the expanding city, but parts have been preserved as they were incorporated into new buildings such as the pantheon-esque San Bernardo alle Terme church and the Aula Attagona, an octagonal hall. Another church, the Santa Maria degli Angeli, also reused a section of the ancient bath complex.

The Santa Maria degli Angeli church is situated on the northeast border of the piazza della Repubblica (formerly known as the Piazza delle Terme). The church was the last structure built by Michelangelo; the renowned artist was 88 years old when the church was completed in 1563.

The church was constructed at the site of the former tepidarium (lukewarm bath) of the Diocletian Baths and incorporates several elements of the former thermae. The imposing entrance is the exedra of the calidarium (hot water bath) and the granite columns inside once supported the roof of the thermae.

The design of the beautiful cloister is also attributed to Michelangelo, even though it was only completed in 1565, one year after his death.

The cloister is home to the Museo delle Terme di Diocleziano, a department of the Museo Nazionale Romano (National Museum of Rome), one of the world's most important museums of Antiquity.

The museum has a large epigraphic collection which provides us a glimpse into the daily lives of people in Ancient Rome. There are more than 10,000 inscriptions and epigraphs as well as other historic artifacts.