Major discoveries at Aquileia's Great Baths: monumental apse emerges

The Great Baths of Aquileia, one of the most impressive and significant bath complexes of the Roman Empire, continue to prove to be a source of important discoveries. Archaeologists from theUniversity of Udine, led by Professor Matteo Cadario, recently made a series of outstanding discoveries during the 2024 excavation campaign, adding new pieces to our knowledge of this monumental building and its historical importance.

The Aquileia Foundation has contributed not only scientific but also financial support for the ongoing research. President Roberto Corciulo and director Cristiano Tiussi of the Foundation emphasized how these excavations are fundamental to the creation of the Aquileia Archaeological Park: “The area of the Great Baths,” they explained, “does not stop revealing new and important pieces of its fascinating history thanks to the joint efforts of the University of Udine and the Aquileia Foundation sanctioned by a scientific and economic collaboration agreement. The continuation and expansion of archaeological research in the areas conferred by the Ministry of Culture represent an inexhaustible source of knowledge and therefore constitute one of the fundamental strategic lines of the Aquileia Foundation toward the establishment of the Archaeological Park. The Strategic Plan of Interventions, approved in April 2024, also defines for the next five years a substantial economic commitment for investigations in collaboration with universities.”

The monumental apse and the incredible sculptural fragments

One of the most remarkable discoveries is the uncovering of a semicircular apse, as much as 30 meters wide, located in the area of the frigidarium, the cold bath hall. Its state of preservation is extraordinary, and its foundations, more than 5 meters wide, suggest the existence of an imposing multi-story structure that served as the monumental facade of the bath complex. The apse of the frigidarium finds a direct correspondence with that of the calidarium, the hot bath hall, unearthed between 2021 and 2023, and together they confirm the grandeur and majesty of the entire complex.

The discovery is also of great value for the architectural context. Archaeologists have identified similarities with other large imperial baths of the period, such as those in Milan and Trier (Trier), built during the Tetrarchic period, between 293 and 305 AD. This architectural model reflects the ideology of the tetrarchs, who ruled the Roman Empire in a four-part partition, and who favored the construction of monumental buildings in the new capitals, including Aquileia, which became one of the most important cities in the Mediterranean.

New discoveries of imperial art

During excavations, fragments of statues from different periods were found, including two parts of male statues in togas, one of them colossal in size, and a statue of a dignitary in armor. These finds suggest that the frigidarium was decorated with large-scale sculptures, probably dedicated to emperors or high-ranking figures. Among the most significant fragments are also parts of statues of deities, such as that of Aesculapius, god of medicine, and a probable statue of Jupiter with an aegis.

In addition, numerous fragments of colossal columns made of African marble, a type of fine marble from present-day Turkey, have been discovered, confirming the grandeur and richness of the frigidarium’s architecture. These elements suggest that the frigidarium was one of the most luxurious rooms in the entire complex, a veritable “hall of wonders” that astonished visitors with its magnificence.

The backdating of the work: construction started in 300 AD.

One of the most important discoveries of the latest excavations concerns the dating of the start of construction of the Great Baths. Thanks to carbon 14 analysis of an alder post found during the excavations, archaeologists have ascertained that construction of the complex began around 300 AD, and not, as previously thought, several decades later. This finding is significant because it places the construction of the baths during the time of Maximian and Diocletian, the two Augusti who ruled the Roman Empire, and suggests that Constantine, who conquered Aquileia in 312 A.D., probably completed the work, but took credit for its completion.

A heritage in continuous evolution

The Great Baths of Aquileia have been the subject of excavations since 2002, and over the past two decades the University of Udine has trained more than 700 archaeology students, actively involving young people in the research as well. Every year, new finds enrich the picture of the history of this extraordinary Roman city, which was a crucial port for the Mediterranean and one of the new imperial residences during the Tetrarchy. Thanks to these excavations, Aquileia is increasingly revealing its importance as a center of power, culture, and art in the Roman Empire.

The strategic location of the Great Baths, close to the Late Antique walls and in a protected area, demonstrates how the Roman Empire wanted to endow Aquileia with buildings to match its importance. The construction of the baths, which spanned some 10,000 square meters with a frontage of as much as 138 meters, reflected the grandeur and prestige of an imperial capital, offering not only a space for physical well-being but also for culture and entertainment.

With each new discovery, the Great Baths of Aquileia are confirmed as one of the most significant archaeological sites of the Roman period, offering insights not only into daily life in ancient Rome, but also into the politics, art, and ideology of the empire’s rulers. Continued research and future enhancement of the site are intended to further strengthen Aquileia’s role as one of Friuli Venezia Giulia’s leading tourist and cultural destinations, contributing to its revival as an “open-air museum” of the Roman Empire.

What the future holds, the president and director of the Aquileia Foundation explain: “We intended to undertake programmatically in the Plan the preliminary steps to open to the public the area of the Great Baths, the largest among those conferred by the Ministry of Culture to the Aquileia Foundation with its 8 hectares of extension. It includes two monumental complexes of primary importance in Aquileian urbanism, the baths and the theater, and also connects to two areas already open to the public, the decumanus of Aratria Galla with the early medieval walls and the Sepulchre. Two distinct itineraries will cross this area: one more purely archaeological, the other of a naturalistic nature connected to the historic Roggia del Mulino, of which we are negotiating with the State Property Office the conferment and management. Just as with the excavation of the nearby theater, the collaboration with the University of Udine also lays the groundwork for thinking concretely about the future valorization of the thermal complex, whose considerable dimensions were intended first to be determined in the scientific project attached to the program agreement. The exciting discovery of the numerous fragments of statues that occurred this year, in addition to the already known discovery of the beautiful mosaics, make the challenge even more fascinating.”

Major discoveries at Aquileia's Great Baths: monumental apse emerges

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