Terme della Rotonda and Church of the Rotonda

Rotonda baths

The Terme della Rotonda are Roman baths not far from the Odeon (Catania) and are located in the Roman archaeological area in the center of the city of Catania. It is the remnant of the ancient baths of the II - III century. The baths had a circular base and were surmounted by a dome-shaped roof that rested on the thick walls. In the thickness of the walls there are eight marble basins that made up a part of the baths. Channels for the water supply and drainage are still visible as well as a calidarium and a frigidarium. In the XNUMXth century, the church of Santa Maria della Rotonda was built on the plan of the baths

Church of S. Maria della Rotonda

It is located in the Roman archaeological area in the center of the city of Catania. In the 1693th century, a church was built by the Byzantines on the plan of the Rotonda baths. The church was entitled Santa Maria della Rotonda and carried out its function until the Second World War. It was among the few city buildings not to be destroyed by the catastrophic earthquake that razed Catania to the ground in XNUMX.

Card insertion: Heritage Sicily

Audio Fact Sheet: Ignazio Caloggero, as part of the Lions District Service District 108 YB, year 2022-2023: "Sicily For the Blind, Let's Make Cultural and Environmental Heritage Enjoyable" with the text provided by the Catania Etna Lions Club