Situated in the Black Sea port city of Varna, the Roman Thermae (Bulgarian: Римски терми, Rimski termi) comprise an elaborate complex of ancient Roman baths (thermae). Found in the southeastern region of the modern city, which was known as Odessus during the Roman Empire, these baths were constructed in the late 2nd century AD. They hold the distinction of being the largest preserved Roman thermae in the Balkans and the fourth-largest in Europe. Varna, originally a Thracian settlement and later an Ancient Greek colony, became part of the Roman Empire in 15 AD. It was assigned to the province of Moesia with some level of local autonomy. Towards the end of the 2nd century, the Roman baths of Varna were erected and remained in use for approximately a century until the late 3rd century. Notably, ruins of the bath complex yielded coins belonging to Roman emperor Septimius Severus (r. 193–211), indicating their historical significance. In the 14th century, the site of the Roman Thermae served as workshops for craftsmen. The Austro-Hungarian researcher E. Kalinka first identified the ruins as an ancient structure in 1906. Subsequently, Czech-Bulgarian archaeologist brothers Karel and Hermann Škorpil conducted further research on the site. Additional parts of the ruins were uncovered between 1959 and 1971 by a team led by M. Mirchev. In 2013, the Varna Municipality initiated an urgent reconservation project worth 125,000 Bulgarian leva to preserve the Roman Thermae. The remains of the baths are located in the southeastern part of modern Varna, where San Stefano Street and Han Krum Street intersect. With an area of approximately 7,000 m² (75,000 sq ft) and vaults reaching heights of 20–22 m (66–72 ft), the Roman baths of Varna rank as the fourth-largest preserved thermae in Europe, following the Baths of Caracalla and Baths of Diocletian in Rome, the imperial capital, and the baths of Trier. They also hold the distinction of being the largest in the Balkan region and the most substantial surviving ancient building in present-day Bulgaria. The Roman Thermae of Varna encompass a comprehensive range of facilities, including an apodyterium (changing room), a frigidarium (cold pool), a tepidarium (warm pool), and a caldarium (hot pool), as well as a palaestra—an area serving social and athletic functions. To ensure warmth, a hypocaust system with underfloor heating pipes was utilized.

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Inserted: 01-07-2023 04:07:36