The monument is located about 2.5 km northeast of Messolonghi, in the area of Agios Thomas. A building of Roman times, it has yet remained always visible, being noted by many travelers who visited the area.
It is a large brick-built public bath complex preserved to a great height, reaching 7 m; one of the few monuments of Roman times preserved hereabouts. It has a T-shaped floor plan and consists of three distinct rooms, corresponding to the cold (frigidarium), tepid (tepidarium) and hot (caldarium) baths, which were covered with vaulted roofs. These rooms included a rectangular main pool and individual circular baths; the basement part of the monument contains the under-floor heating system used to heat the hot baths. The entrance to the monument was on the north side and was probably of a monumental form. Two external tanks stored water for the operation of the complex, probably drawn from the so-called ‘Hot Fountain’ located nearby.
The monument was located near the Roman road (via publica romana) and was probably constructed in the 2nd century AD, as the discovery of a stone road-marker shows. It was destroyed by a great earthquake that struck the area in 551 AD and was later used for burials.
The building was investigated by the 6th Ephorate of Prehistoric and Classical Antiquities in 2000-2001, when it was being restored through the INTERREG II Programme with the necessary interventions to make it a visitable site and to make it protected by a cover. Access to the monument is via the national road Antirrio – Messolonghi, from the junction of Messolonghi – Agios Thomas.
Address: Ag. Thomas of Messolonghi
Opening hours: 08.30 – 15.30
The archaeological site is open on Saturdays and Sundays, while on other days (except Tuesdays) it is open to visitors by arrangement with the Ephorate.
Entrance: Full ticket: 3 Euros, Reduced ticket: 2 Euros.
