Forum Traianus at Fordongianus, the Roman baths. The baths are located along the river Tirso where water from a spring with 60 degrees Celsius flows in to the river. The Romans built the baths around the spring.

An overview of the oldest parts of the baths (Terme I) with the main natatio and the arched passage.

The baths in a picture of the nineties of the previous century. The natatio was filled with water at that time and the archeological site had not yet been excavated as much as in 2007.

A detail of the natatio and the pavements. The water that was reversed over the centuries in the natatio covered the stairs at the end of the pool. Note the two quadrangular holes with water.

The remaining part of the vaulted baths at Forum Traianus.

The entrance to the natatio, down the stairs to the arched passage.

The arcade. To the right the entrance. Probably the arched passage went all around the natatio.

The natatio of the Terme I of Forum Trajanus. The stairs all around gave easy access and a place to sit down.

Light and shadow on the water of the natatio.

Your host next to the large stone, in the form of a pantherhead, that served as fountain to the natatio. In the nineties it was still in place. It is either cleaned or replaced.

The arched passage taken in a picture of the nineties of the previous century. Part of the area was not yet excavated.

Detail of the edge of the natatio. The inscription is roman and the stone has been reused in a late roman or early medieval restauration.

Centuries of water were reversed into the natatio leaving it‘s sediment on the stairs. Note the funnel, in the form of a pantherhead, that has been put aside and cleaned.

In this picture taken in the nineties you can see the funnel in place (as well as the natatio filled with water).

A wall of the baths (II) added in later times. Note the typical roman style with bricks and natural stones. In front part of the canal system (cloaca) that led cold and warm water to the baths.

In detail the watersystem of the baths called cloaca in Latin.

The open space in front of the baths of Forum Traianus. This was most prbably the roman forum itself. In the back stairs lead up to the town of Fordongianus or possibly a temple, now under the town of Fordongianus, where more Roman remains can be found.

The forum in a picture taken in the nineties. Note the water passes right across the square in the cloaca.

Affresco of the 4th century AD with horses and flowers at the site of Fordongianus. It is protected against the rain with a small roof. It gives a good idea of the richness of decoration and taste of the times.

Detail of the decoration of a wall at Fordongianus. The affresco is of the fourth century AD.

The baths, Terme II, and left the cloaca in a corner of the forum. Behind it you can see the arches of the Terme I.

The cloaca running through the pavement of the forum in a picture of the nineties.

The cloaca in a fotograph of 2007. This the cold water that was mixed with the warm water (54 degrees C) in a bassin next to the Terme.

The bath in the Calidarium of the Terme II, the hottest part of the baths. In the Terme II the warm, water was obtained by heating it in the rooms next to it (calidaria), where the warm water in Terme I was obtained from the natural source.

Remains of the walls of the Frigidarium of the Terme II

Pavement of the bath in the Frigidarium. The bath was built against the walls of the Terme I, recognizable through the use of trachyte.

Apse of the Frigidarium of Terme II where there was another bath.

Tha passage between Terme II and Terme I in a picture of the nineties. This passage was initially closed when the Terme II were built, and reopened in a later time.

A water-pipe in ceramic incorporated in the wall next to the stairs leading to the Terme I.

At the back of the baths, in the trachitic rock the water was gathered in cisterns, half cut in the rock and half built with masonry.

A view of the water system in the trachyte rocks behind the baths of Fordongianus.

Checking the water temperature: it is cold water.