Ankara Roman Bath and Open-Air Museum

The Roman Bath is located on Çankırı Street, stretching from Ulus Square to Yıldırım Beyazıt Square. It lies approximately 400 meters from Ulus, on the west side of the road, elevated on a platform about 2.5 meters above street level.

Although historical sources indicated the presence of a bath in ancient Ankara, the first archaeological traces were discovered in 1931 during construction work. The complex consists of two main sections: the Great Bath and the palaestra (exercise courtyard). The bath building measures approximately 140 × 180 meters, and on its northeast side lies a nearly 95 × 95-meter palaestra. Based on finds and coins uncovered during excavations, the Great Bath is thought to have been constructed during the reign of Emperor Caracalla (AD 211–217).

Excavations revealed that the site—today known as the Roman Bath—was originally a mound, occupied successively during the Phrygian, Roman, and partly Byzantine, Seljuk, and Ottoman periods.

At this site, historically known as Çankırıkapı, two major structures from the Roman period can be observed:

1. A section of the colonnaded street of ancient Ancyra

2. The Roman Bath and Palaestra structures, surrounded by additional architectural remains from the Roman era

Open-Air Museum

Covering an area of approximately 65,000 m², the Ankara Roman Bath archaeological site was transformed into an open-air museum through restoration and landscaping works carried out between 1997 and 2001.

Roughly 1,000 artifacts uncovered at the site are displayed in three main groups: grave steles, inscribed stones, and architectural elements.

• Along the south and west wings of the palaestra are grave steles.
• The north wing features inscribed blocks, pedestals, and water pipes.
• The east wing displays altars and other architectural pieces.
• In the central area, sarcophagi and lion sculptures are exhibited.

Most of the grave steles belong to the Roman and Byzantine periods.

The inscribed blocks consist mainly of epitaphs and milestone stones, offering valuable information about Roman-era Ankara. For example, one inscription reveals that retired soldiers of Ancyra founded an association during the reign of Emperor Vespasian (AD 69–79). Other inscriptions provide insights into the economic, social, cultural, and commercial life of the period, as well as athletic activities.

Additionally, several finely crafted architectural pieces from Roman structures are on view at the site. Among them is a relief block depicting a Nike-themed victory monument, displayed in the exhibition area west of the indoor bath section. Other artifacts include column capitals, column bases, and various small architectural fragments.