Bagni di Nerone (Roman Baths of Nero)

Historic Site in Pisa

The Baths of Nero, also known as Bagni di Nerone, are located in Largo del Parlascio, near the Porta a Lucca in Pisa. The term “Parlascio” is derived from the German word for a place where bears fought, which suggests that the area might have been used for bear-baiting in the past. The main gate of the Baths, which was opened in 1546, is decorated with a double sandstone frame. Two smaller gates on each side of the main one were used for foot traffic when the city’s tram system passed through the gate.

The Baths of Nero are actually Roman baths dating back to the 1st century AD. These baths were part of a large complex of structures where the local population would go almost every day for hygienic purposes. The baths were supplied with water from the Roman aqueduct of Caldaccoli, which was constructed in the 1st century AD and is now partly visible near San Giuliano Terme, where it originated.

The name “Bagni di Nerone” might be misleading, as there is no evidence of Nero’s involvement in the construction of these baths. The complex has been dated to the last twenty years of the 1st century AD, which is almost 20 years after Nero’s death. The origin of the name is believed to be connected to the legend of San Torpé, a Pisan martyr beheaded in 68 AD.

The remaining structures of the Baths of Nero include a square-shaped room with an octagonal interior, which is believed to have been the “laconicum,” used for hot air baths. Other visible remains include the walls of the gymnasium, the apodyterium (changing room), and two walls of the tepidarium. These ruins provide valuable insights into the daily life and bathing practices of the ancient Roman population in Pisa.

The Bagni di Nerone (Roman Baths of Nero) appears in our Complete Guide to Visiting Pisa!

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