Capo di Bove: Ancient Roman Baths on the Appian Way

Capo di Bove is an archaeological site situated on the fourth mile of the ancient Via Appia Antica, near the Mausoleum of Cecilia Metella. The site contains the remains of a 2nd-century AD Roman bath complex that was part of a large property owned by Herodes Atticus, a wealthy Athenian, and his wife, Annia Regilla. The name 'Capo di Bove' dates back to the Middle Ages when the area was known as the 'Casale di Capo di Bove e di Capo di Vacca' (Hamlet of the Heads of the Ox and Cow), named after the ox head sculptures adorning the nearby tomb of Cecilia Metella. Over the centuries, the area has had various uses, including serving as a hospital in the 17th century and later becoming property of the monastery at the Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls in the 19th century. Excavations on the 8,600 square meter property began in 2002 after the Italian government acquired the land. These excavations revealed the private thermal baths, which were in use until at least the 4th century. The complex includes the typical rooms found in Roman baths: a caldarium (hot bath), a tepidarium (warm bath), and a frigidarium (cold bath). Visitors can still see well-preserved mosaics, polychrome marble flooring, hydraulic tanks, and parts of the sewer system. The high quality of the building materials suggests an elegant environment. The site also features a main building used for cultural events and the Archives and Library of Antonio Cederna.