Historical and constructive analysis of the Rotonda Roman baths at Catania (Sicily)

One of the main icons of the Roman civilization are thermal baths, built as public places for personal hygiene, body and mind relaxation, as well as recreation, social intercourse and sport. In Sicily, there is evidence of several thermal buildings dating back to the time of the Roman Empire. Among these, the Terme della Rotonda, in the city of Catania, have always attracted strong interest due to their intricate and fascinating architecture. However, at present the dating of the different parts that constitute the complex is still uncertain, while diverse assumptions have been advanced on the function of the main rooms, built in different historical periods, from Roman to Byzantine to late Baroque times. This paper reports the preliminary investigations carried out as part of a multidisciplinary research project that aims at bridging the knowledge gap on the diachronic development of the Terme della Rotonda through accurate investigations. To this end, historical and constructive analyses are here presented, providing new information on the materials and construction techniques adopted.