Great City Baths: A New Step Towards the Preservation and Presentation of an Important Site in Salona
As visitors walk through the remains of ancient Salona today, it is hard to imagine that nearly two thousand years ago this very place was alive with the everyday activities of the inhabitants of one of the largest Roman cities on the eastern Adriatic coast. Here, people bathed, met friends, exchanged ideas and enjoyed moments of leisure.
Today, Salona is one of Croatia's most important archaeological sites. Once the capital of the Roman province of Dalmatia, it was a thriving urban centre whose impressive remains continue to reveal new insights into Roman life.
Among its most significant public buildings are the Great City Baths, a monumental bath complex located in the eastern part of the ancient city, near today's Episcopal Centre. Built in the late 2nd or early 3rd century AD, the baths were enlarged and remodelled several times over the centuries to meet the changing needs of the city's inhabitants, remaining in use until the fall of Salona in the 7th century.
What were Roman public baths?
For the Romans, public baths were far more than places for personal hygiene. They were vibrant social hubs where people gathered to meet, converse, exercise, relax and conduct everyday business. In many ways, they functioned as the community centres of the Roman world and formed an essential part of urban life in every major city.
The Great City Baths of Salona stand as a remarkable reminder of the city's sophisticated urban culture and of the important role Salona played within the Roman province of Dalmatia.
A new chapter for an important archaeological site
Although the entire bath complex was uncovered during the first systematic archaeological excavations in 1906, the last major conservation works were carried out in 1967. At that time, the southern section of the baths was restored and conserved, while the northern section remained exposed to weathering and gradual deterioration for decades. Since then, only limited maintenance and documentation work had been undertaken.
In 2026, a new phase of archaeological research and site improvement began. The first stage focused on carefully clearing the site. Vegetation was removed from walls, floors, pools, benches and staircases, together with large quantities of collapsed architectural material that had accumulated over many years of natural decay.
Documenting the present and planning for the future
During these works, archaeologists identified remains of mosaic floors and wall frescoes that most likely belong to earlier construction phases of the baths. These discoveries provide valuable new insights into the architectural development of the complex over the centuries while also helping to shape future research and conservation strategies.
Following the cleaning campaign, the entire site was thoroughly documented. A comprehensive conservation plan is now being prepared, providing professional guidelines for future restoration and conservation work.
A systematic approach to researching, preserving and presenting Salona
Archaeological research does not end with the discovery of ancient remains. Their protection, documentation and long-term preservation are equally important.
The experts of the Archaeological Museum in Split will continue archaeological escavations alongside extensive conservation and restoration works, ensuring that this exceptional monument of ancient Salona is preserved for future generations and presented to both the professional and local community and the wider and international public in the best possible way.
Every wall that is cleaned, every stone that is documented and every newly uncovered fragment represents another step towards a deeper understanding of life in what was once the capital of Roman Dalmatia.