National Roman Museum and Diocletian Thermal Baths Guided Tour

These were the greatest baths of antiquity and constitute evidence of the high degree of refinement of the Romans of that period. More than 3,000 bathers could be accomodated at one time in this huge establishment, built by Maximian and Diocletian (298-306 A. D.). Today, we see the Church of Santa Maria degli Angeli, and the Museo Nazionale (or delle Terme) on the site of the ancient ruins.

CHURCH OF SANTA MARIA DEGLI ANGELI

It was built in 1561, by Michelangelo, who transformed one of the great halls of the Baths (the ancient Tepidarium) into a church. In 1749, Luigi Vanvitelli remodeled the structure. Currently, it is used for official religious ceremonies.

Interior: Crossing the vestibule (the ancient Calidarium), we enter the church, which at the transept is 91 meters long, 27 meters wide, and 28 meters high. Of the 16 enormous columns, 8, of Egyptian granite, are ancient. I In this church, are numerous monuments and tombs of famous people. To the left, the tomb of the Neapolitan poet and painter of the 1600’s Salvator Rosa; to the right, the tomb of the painter Carlo Maratta (d. 1713), and one of his most significant works, the Baptism of Christ. In the right corridor to the transept, the statue of St. Brunone by G. Anthony Houdon (1766), about | which Pope Clement XIV used to say: « He would speak, if the rules of his i Order did not forbid it ». A sundial, on the pavement to the right, is by Francesco Bianchini and Giacomo Maraldi (1702). Noteworthy among the I paintings is the « Saint Jerome surrounded by Saints » by Girolamo Muziano, an artist whose works were esteemed by Michelangelo. The tomb of Marshal Armando Diaz (d. 1928) is also to be seen. A fine painting by Domenichino, « The Martyrdom of Saint Sebastian » is to the right of the main altar, and I to the left, « The Punishment of Ananias and Sapphira » by Pomarancio. Behind the main altar, the sepulchre of Pius IV attributed to Michelangelo.

THE NATIONAL MUSEUM OR MUSEUM DELLE TERME

It is to the right of Santa Maria degli Angeli. Inaugurated in 1889, it comprises an important collection of Greek, Roman, and Christian art. At the beginninq of this century, the museum was enriched by the Ludovisi bequest.