Terme romane di Fordongianus

About the museum

The ancient Roman baths of Fordongianus lie on the left bank of the River Tirso, not far from where Forum Traiani stood, and bear witness to the importance of bathing in Roman society. The Romans valued their healing properties: the spring water still rises today at a temperature of 54 °C.

The complex consists of two separate bathhouses. The first dates to the 1st century AD and had a therapeutic use: it was fed by the hot spring and originally built of large trachyte slabs, with clear traces of the alterations it underwent over the centuries. The second, from the 3rd century AD, is linked to the first by a staircase that opens onto the portico of the natatio (swimming pool); it served body care and hygiene and was artificially heated, with rooms at different temperatures, the frigidarium, the tepidarium and the caldarium, allowing a route from cold to hot. Upstream, a system of wells and cisterns can be seen, partly fed by the Roman aqueduct, from which water was distributed to the bathing rooms through a network of channels.

The site is run by the Società Cooperativa Forum Traiani, founded in 2001, which organises guided tours, educational workshops and events, and also manages the Casa Aragonese and the Is Bangius thermal baths.

Highlights

• Two Roman bathhouses from the 1st and 3rd centuries AD
• Hot spring at 54 °C
• Frigidarium, tepidarium and caldarium
• Wells, cisterns and channels of the Roman aqueduct
• Combined ticket with the Casa Aragonese

Permanent exhibition

• Area archeologica delle terme romane – Visit to the two Roman bathhouses, the cisterns and the wells, accompanied by a guide.

Operated by

Gestione: Società Cooperativa Forum Traiani

Visitors per year

approx. 10,037

Admission & discounts

The ticket also includes the Casa Aragonese. The Is Bangius and Bagni Termali Comunali baths have separate rates and are booked by telephone.

Accessibility

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops

Interactive educational workshops for different age groups are available, dedicated to Roman history in Sardinia.

Getting there & parking

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Amenities & dining

• Café
• Museum shop

There is a souvenir shop on the site. Near the baths, the Upside Down kiosk-bar serves drinks, snacks and quick meals from March to October.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit