Roman thermae of Albenga

The Roman thermae of Albenga is an archaeological site featuring multiple bathing chambers for cold, warm, and hot water, interconnected by an underground heating system beneath the building. Visitors can see the remains of mosaic floors, water channels, and the brick structures that once distributed heat to warm the baths.

The complex was built during the 2nd century AD as a public facility for the Roman city, reflecting the engineering knowledge available to builders at that time. The structure shows how Romans solved practical challenges like heating large amounts of water and distributing it throughout connected rooms.

Romans visited these baths not just to wash, but to spend time with friends and conduct business deals while relaxing. The layout shows how people moved between different temperature rooms, making bathing a social experience that lasted hours.

The site is accessible to visitors who can walk through the different bath chambers and understand the original layout. It helps to observe the underground passages and brick structures carefully to appreciate how the heating system functioned.

The site reveals evidence of multiple building phases showing how the complex expanded and was rebuilt several times as the city grew and bathing habits changed. Later modifications demonstrate that Romans adapted their structures when new technologies or larger crowds required it.