Roman Thermae Varna, Varna

Roman Thermae Varna, Varna

The Roman Thermae in Varna are a complex of ancient Roman baths in the southeastern part of the city which was then known as Odessus.

The Roman Thermae in Varna are a complex of ancient Roman baths in the southeastern part of the city which was then known as Odessus. Built in the late 2nd century AD and operated till the end of the 3rd century, the ruins spread over 7000 m² are the largest preserved Roman baths in the Balkans, and 4th largest in Europe. Located behind St. Atanasii Church, the ruins are marked by a solid boundary wall with 2 entrances, one from the east and the other from the west. They comprise the typical features of Roman spas, which include an apodyterium (changing room), a frigidarium (cold pool), a tepidarium (warm pool) and a caldarium (hot pool) as well as a palaestra (space for social and athletic functions). Heating was provided by means of a hypocaust, an underground heating system of pipes. These spas became a part of the daily life of the citizens, and were usually the spot where they would spend a lot of their time, especially the afternoons. Excavated finds from the area include a statue of Claudius Aquila, as well as statues of the Roman gods Heracles, Victoria and Mercury. Inscriptions in the galleries indicate the northwest part of the thermae had sanctuaries of Asclepius and Hygia.