Photo. Roman public baths in the city of Bath in England. The entire structure above the level of the pillar bases is a later reconstruction.
Exploring the bath complex was a really rewarded experience. I went there without taking a bath, but I wished I could. The trip was definitely too short. On my tour I combined the City of Bath with Stonehenge.
In Bath Abbey I could observe a great bath is filled with green hot spa waters that were thought to be able to cure all ills. It`s still in perfect working order, but I didn`t notice anyone in the water.
I walk fast around in the City of Bath to experience most of it in short time. If I had better time it would be a pleasure to sit down, relax, enjoy a pint of beer, look around and dream away about the past. It would also be interesting to study more of the history and admire the fascinating architecture.
The City of Bath offers natural hot springs, stunning architecture, great shopping and iconic attractions. It must be one of the most beautiful cities in the world.
Bath is a small Georgian city located 97 miles (156 km) west of London. The city is in the ceremonial county of Somerset in the south west of England. The population of the city is 83,992. It has some of the richest ancient history in Britain, and much of the most stunning architecture in Europe.
By walking around in the city I could admire elegant honey-coloured crescents, beautiful Georgian squares and the delightful scenery along the banks of the River Avon. I also enjoyed watching the famous Pulteney Bridge and of course Bath Abbey, known locally as 'The Lantern of the West'.
The terms balnea (from Greek βαλανείον) or thermae (from Greek thermos) were the words the ancient Romans used for the buildings housing their public baths.
Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_bath
Photo. In Roman times a great Temple was built next to the sacred spring. The waters were believed to have healing abilities and attracted visitors from across the Roman Empire.
Even the Roman soldiers were extremely brutal against the locals, their proved their skills in construction baths, enjoy bathing and stay clean. Here the British learn a lesson from the Romans, and starting to improve their hygienic.
The city was first established as a spa resort with the Latin name, Aquae Sulis ("the waters of Sulis") by the Romans in AD 43 although verbal tradition suggests that Bath was known before then.
They built baths and a temple on the surrounding hills of Bath in the valley of the River Avon around hot springs, which are the only ones naturally occurring in the United Kingdom. Edgar was crowned king of England at Bath Abbey in 973.
Much later, it became popular as a spa resort during the Georgian era, which led to a major expansion that left a heritage of exemplary Georgian architecture crafted from Bath Stone.
As City of Bath, the city became a World Heritage Site in 1987. The city has a variety of theatres, museums, and other cultural and sporting venues, which have helped to make it a major centre for tourism, with over one million staying visitors and 3.8 million day visitors to the city each year.
In my opinion this beautiful Georgian city justly deserves its status as a World Heritage Site, with its delightful terraces, elegant crescents and stunning architecture.
Stein Morten Lund, 20 February 2010
Additional information
The official tourism website for Bath, England: http://visitbath.co.uk
The Roman Baths is one of the largest tourist attractions in South West England. Find out more about charges, opening times and the facilities on the website: www.romanbaths.co.uk
Roman Baths, Abbey Church Yard, Bath, BA1 1LZ Tel: + 44 (0) 1225 477 785 Fax: +44 (0) 1225 477 743 E-mail: romanbaths_bookings@bathnes.gov.uk
Information on other events and attractions in Bath can be found at the website:
www.visitbath.co.uk
www.bathfestivals.org.uk
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