Mens sana in corpore sano: thermal baths for body and soul

The Roman thermal baths destined to the upper class were huge, monumental buildings, while they were smaller for the common people. However, they did not exclude anyone: thermal baths were a common necessity. At first they corresponded with the thermal water springs, but, once heating techniques improved, they were brought inside the city.


The Roman thermal structure was divided into three different areas: frigidarium, tedidarium and calidarium. In the frigidarium there were pools to take baths in cold water. Usually they were rectangular, turned towards the North and with a few windows to avoid sun heating as much as possible. After the frigidarium, people moved to the tepidarium, where there was a moderate temperature and the atmosphere was slightly heated by draughts passing under the floor, which was raised and laid on small piles in order to allow air circulation. Finally, they moved to the calidarium, where the temperature was kept at about 50°C: a kind of sauna; it was exposed to the South to exploit sun heating at the best, and it was heated, like the tepidarium, through the floor and even through the walls.


Putting perfumes and spiced wines in the water was a habit of the Romans, as well as using aromatic oils for massages, with the double aim of perfuming and hydrating their skin. Today's habits are pretty much the same: saunas and massage rooms are often covered with flavoured wood and aromatic oils are usually smoothed on the body during massages, as Romans did in ancient times.


The Roman thermal baths had social, hygienic and curative functions. Modern structures pursue more or less the same purposes: more than a meeting point, thermal baths are places where your organism purifies from smog and pollution and heals rheumatic pains, articular pains, and chronic or temporary respiratory problems. In case of joints and general osseous pains, it is advisable a mud bath treatment:  the mud is applied at the temperature of 40-45°C, and they are usually accompanied by drinks to restore the mineral salt lost through perspiration, baths in thermal water and massages.


In addition, thermal baths are widely used in post-operatory and post-traumatic rehabilitation: their therapeutic properties have a beneficial effect in these cases, as well as in case of rheumatic pain. Thermal healings may follow inhalation therapies or balneotherapies, and they are usually accompanied by massages, and they are appropriate to heal osteoarticular, muscular and respiratory pathologies. Furthermore, there is another activity in which thermal baths are considered extremely useful: relaxing. Spending some days in a thermal bath, or even just one, gives you the chance to completely commit yourself to the care of your body, removing all of your daily thoughts and problems through a pleasant cure for your body that turns out to be a perfect anti-stress for your mind.