There are so many things to see In Porto Torres: beaches, basilicas, domus de janas, without forgetting the close and unmissable island of Asinara. But this is even a city with a very ancient and fascinating history, that can be discovered and travelled through again by visiting the three Roman baths of Porto Torres.
- Maetzke Baths. This hot springs owes its name to the archeologist who, in the 1960s, brought it to light. Since the 3rd century BC, the Maetzke Baths represented an important public meeting point for the citizens of the ancient town of Turris Libisonis. The thermal bath was made up of several rooms connected to each other, and overlaid to an older residential district of the first century AD.
- Pallottino Baths. Even in this case, it’s the archaeologist who discovered them in the years 1941-1942 who gave the hot spring this name. The Pallottine Baths are located along the northern limit of the archaeological area. According to the remains, the bath was made up with three main compartments, each with a heating system for walls and floors that were entirely covered with beautiful mosaics and geometric decoration, a feature that places the structure at the end of the 3rd century AD.
- King Barbaro’s Palace Baths. According to tradition, this majestic structure should be the ruins of King Barbaro’s Palace, the ruler who condemned Saint Gavino to martyrdom. Built in the 1st century BC, the site shows roads paved with trachytes and walls and pavements covered with precious polychrome mosaics.
The three Roman baths of Porto Torres will allow you, to make a journey back in time during your holiday. However, don’t forget another trip to book: your ferry to Sardinia.
Image source: Di Daniel Cualbu – Opera propria, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=40308590
