Byzantine Bath, Roman bathhouse in Upper Town, Greece.
The Byzantine Bath is a bathhouse complex in Upper Town featuring separate sections for different bathing temperatures and functions. Passages with vaulted ceilings and domed structures connect the various chambers, demonstrating sophisticated heating and ventilation techniques.
The structure was built in the late 12th century during an important period for the city and served residents for centuries. It remained in use through the Ottoman occupation and closure in the 1940s, adapting to changing rules and customs throughout those eras.
The bathhouse reflects how bathing was part of daily life in the city and how gender customs shifted over centuries. During Byzantine times men and women shared the space at different hours, while later Ottoman practices enforced stricter separation.
The site sits on Theotokopoulou Street and functions as a museum open to visitors interested in ancient engineering and bathing systems. Since much of it lies below ground level, visitors should allow extra time to properly explore the excavated remains and understand how heat and water once flowed through the space.
This remains the only surviving public bath in the city and one of the largest fully intact examples of its kind in the country. Its continuous use from Byzantine times through the 20th century makes it a rare testament to how long these buildings could serve communities.
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