THE BATHS OF FILIPPO NERI

In the centre of the area of the Imperial Villa is the spot where once stood Tor Paterno (F12). It was a military tower built in the 9th century in the ruins of Roman baths. It was rebuilt at the end of the 16th century, as ordered by the papal bull De aedificandis turribus in oris maritimis ("On the building of towers on the maritime shores"), issued by Pius V in 1567. We have a plan of the Roman building from the 17th century, recording many details that were lost since. In the same century a chapel dedicated to San Filippo Neri was erected inside the ruins. The tower was destroyed by English soldiers in 1809. The ruins were described by Antonio Nibby in 1848. A large "casale" built around the chapel and on top of the Roman building was torn down in the early 20th century, the chapel is still standing.

The chapel surrounded by the ruins of the baths. Photo: Bing Maps.

The ruins of the baths and Tor Paterno in a drawing from the 17th century. Image: Lauro 1998, fig. 40.

The casale on top of the ruins. Photo: Lanciani 1906, fig. 10.

The baths are today the most impressive ruins in the area. For convenience sake they have here been called Baths of Filippo Neri, because there are so many baths in the area. They were erected in the early Imperial period. The thickness of the lower part of the walls is 0.85 - 1.00 m. An entrance in the north-west part led to the palestra.

Plan of the baths. The cross indicates the chapel, the asterisk the possible location of the tower. The walls that can be seen today are solid black and have been superimposed on a plan from the 17th century. Image: Mannucci 1985, fig. 14.

View of the ruins, with the chapel to the left. Photo: Monica Berti, tufts.edu.

Views of the ruins. Photos: Pietrafitta 1985, figs. 1-4.

Reconstruction drawing of the baths. Image: Lauro 1998, fig. 52.