Rome Baths of Trajan open to visitors for first time

Rome’s Baths of Trajan, an ancient bathing and leisure complex near the Colosseum and Roman Forum, are opening to visitors for the first time, the city’s mayor said Tuesday.

The baths were inaugurated in 109 AD and covered 60,000 square metres, or 646,000 square feet. They were built by Apollodorus of Damascus, described in the supplied material as the most famous architect of the time.

The remains are on the Colle Oppio. Visitors will be able to see a fresco called “The Painted City”, which depicts an unidentified city of the Roman Empire, and a large mosaic called “The Muse and the Philosopher”.

Mayor Roberto Gualtieri said the fresco and mosaic are the largest of the Roman era ever discovered. He called them unique works for their artistic beauty and historical significance.

The site also includes an exedra, a semicircular building whose precise purpose is unknown. City authorities plan for it to host artistic and cultural events in the future.

The area is still undergoing restoration and will initially open only at weekends for groups of no more than 15 people during September.