--- title: Baths of Caracalla: World’s Greatest Places 2024 description: Find out why Baths of Caracalla is on TIME’s list of the World’s Greatest Places 2024. canonical: https://time.com/collections/worlds-greatest-places-2024/6992348/baths-of-caracalla/ article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2024-07-25T10:48:35.000Z article:modified_time: 2026-03-03T00:32:48.035Z article:section: World og:title: Baths of Caracalla: World's Greatest Places 2024 og:description: Find out why Baths of Caracalla is one of the World's Greatest Places 2024 og:url: https://time.com/collections/worlds-greatest-places-2024/6992348/baths-of-caracalla/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltc0677e685434c437/698a591d457a5280d6d6a8f0/worlds-greatest-places-baths-of-caracalla-2024.jpg?branch=production&width=3840&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 og:image:width: 1200 og:image:height: 675 og:image:alt: Baths of Caracalla: World's Greatest Places 2024 og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: Baths of Caracalla: World's Greatest Places 2024 twitter:description: Find out why Baths of Caracalla is one of the World's Greatest Places 2024 twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltc0677e685434c437/698a591d457a5280d6d6a8f0/worlds-greatest-places-baths-of-caracalla-2024.jpg?branch=production&width=3840&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 --- Jul 25, 2024 # Baths of Caracalla ## Video: The World's Greatest Places of 2024 [Watch (HLS stream): The World's Greatest Places of 2024](https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/HlwBiNPC.m3u8) (3:29)  _Published 2024-07-25_ Rome by [Charlotte Maiorana](https://time.com/author/charlotte-c-maiorana/) ## Charlotte Maiorana  A view of the new water feature installed at the Baths of Caracalla. A view of the new water feature installed at the Baths of Caracalla.Tiziana Fabi—AFP/Getty Images While Italy’s waters have been calling since the sirens first sang, the return of water to the [Baths of Caracalla](https://www.britannica.com/topic/Baths-of-Caracalla)—for the first time in more than 1,500 years—ensures the Eternal City deserves a visit for _l’acqua_, too. Opened in April, _Lo Specchio_ (The Mirror), is a contemporary pool reflecting the majestic ruins of one of antiquity’s largest bath complexes. Complete with water jets and lights, it makes its own drama reminiscent of steam, and is equipped with a stage set to host theater and dance performances, concerts, and lectures throughout the year; the opening was a new [ballet](https://www.reuters.com/lifestyle/ballet-hails-return-water-romes-ancient-caracalla-baths-2024-04-12/) set to George Gershwin’s _Rhapsody in Blue_. It’s all part of a larger project by Soprintendenza Speciale Archeologia Belle Arti e Paesaggio di Roma to restore the baths, believed to have been in use from 216 A.D. to the sixth century. “The return of water is not only a wonder for its own sake, a joy for the eyes and the spirit, but is meant to be a concrete symbol of reconnection with the ancient world,” says Daniela Porro, special superintendent for cultural affairs in Rome. The new design will create a connection between the archaeological site and the urban fabric of Rome today via a garden, new entrance, and overall hub for cultural activities. _Buy your copy of the World's Greatest Places issue_ [_here_](https://magazineshop.us/TIMEWGP24) ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"Article","@id":"https://time.com/collections/worlds-greatest-places-2024/6992348/baths-of-caracalla/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/collections/worlds-greatest-places-2024/6992348/baths-of-caracalla/"},"headline":"Baths of Caracalla","datePublished":"2024-07-25T10:48:35.000Z","dateModified":"2026-03-03T00:32:48.035Z","description":"","url":"https://time.com/collections/worlds-greatest-places-2024/6992348/baths-of-caracalla/","keywords":["World's Greatest Places","franchise"],"thumbnailUrl":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltc0677e685434c437/698a591d457a5280d6d6a8f0/worlds-greatest-places-baths-of-caracalla-2024.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Charlotte Maiorana","jobTitle":null,"url":"https://time.com/author/charlotte-c-maiorana/"}],"creator":"Charlotte Maiorana","articleSection":"World","image":[{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltc0677e685434c437/698a591d457a5280d6d6a8f0/worlds-greatest-places-baths-of-caracalla-2024.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","width":1200,"height":675}],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Time","url":"https://time.com/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://time.com/images/logo.png","width":528,"height":156},"foundingDate":"March 3, 1923","sameAs":["https://www.facebook.com/time","https://www.instagram.com/time/?hl=en","https://twitter.com/time","https://www.pinterest.com/timemagazine"]}},{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"item":{"@id":"/section/world/","name":"World"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"item":{"@id":"/tag/worlds-greatest-places/","name":"World's Greatest Places"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"item":{"@id":"https://time.com/collections/worlds-greatest-places-2024/6992348/baths-of-caracalla/","name":"Baths of Caracalla"}}]},{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"VideoObject","name":"The World's Greatest Places of 2024","description":"","thumbnailUrl":"https://cdn.jwplayer.com/v2/media/HlwBiNPC/poster.jpg?width=720","uploadDate":"2024-07-25T10:50:00.000Z","contentUrl":"https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/HlwBiNPC.m3u8","embedUrl":"https://time.com/collections/worlds-greatest-places-2024/6992348/baths-of-caracalla/","duration":"PT3M29S","potentialAction":{"@type":"SeekToAction","target":"https://time.com/collections/worlds-greatest-places-2024/6992348/baths-of-caracalla/?jw_start={seek_to_second_number}","startOffset-input":"required name=seek_to_second_number"}}] ```