Roman thermae of Cartago Nova, Roman baths in Ancient Roman forum district, Cartagena, Spain
The Roman thermae of Cartago Nova are an ancient bathing complex with separate cold, warm, and hot chambers. An underground heating system with terracotta pipes connected these rooms and circulated heated water throughout the structure.
The complex was built during Rome's expansion into Hispania as part of Carthago Nova's growth into a major administrative center under Emperor Augustus. They reflect the advanced urban infrastructure that Rome established throughout its provinces.
The baths served as public meeting places where residents of all backgrounds gathered daily, mixing personal hygiene with social interaction and business dealings. These spaces reveal how central bathing was to the rhythm of Roman town life.
The ruins are open to visitors, with guided tours available to explain the Roman bathing process and ancient engineering methods. Take time to examine the different chambers and understand how the heating system functioned.
The site preserves original mosaics and intact plumbing that reveal the sophistication of Roman water engineering. These systems operated through careful slope and pressure calculations, requiring no mechanical pumps.
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