Greece to Restore Roman Baths at Ancient Eretria

by · Greek City Times

Greece’s Ministry of Culture is moving ahead with plans to restore and showcase the Roman baths at Eretria on the island of Evia, an important archaeological complex that sheds light on the city’s history and daily life during the Roman period.

The project aims to protect the archaeological remains, improve the site’s appearance and highlight its architectural character while respecting the monument’s authenticity and archaeological surroundings.

The restoration forms part of the Ministry of Culture’s broader plan to connect the monuments across the archaeological site of Eretria and create an integrated network of accessible archaeological attractions. The initiative seeks to highlight the ancient city’s historical evolution and offer visitors a more comprehensive experience.

The Swiss Archaeological School prepared the architectural study in full alignment with a recently approved plan to connect Eretria’s archaeological monuments. The Ephorate of Antiquities of Evia is implementing that wider project through the Regional Operational Programme “Central Greece 2021-2027”.

Mendoni: Eretria is Evia’s most important archaeological site

Read more: Greece to Restore and Reuse Ancient Theatre of Maroneia

Culture Minister Lina Mendoni described Eretria as the most important archaeological site on Evia, with monuments documenting the city’s long history.

She said decades of excavations by Greece’s Archaeological Service and, particularly, the Swiss Archaeological School, which began work in the 1960s, had uncovered significant buildings and architectural complexes associated with the public and private lives of the ancient city’s inhabitants.

These discoveries form a unique archaeological ensemble, which Mendoni described as a “living museum” emerging within the modern urban landscape and helping define Eretria’s contemporary identity.

The findings also document the area’s continued use over time and provide a better understanding of the city’s development during the Roman period.

Mendoni said the restoration would protect the authentic remains while making the monument’s original functions and historical significance easier for visitors to understand.

She added that the project would connect the baths with neighbouring archaeological sites and existing or planned visitor routes, creating a more accessible and coherent archaeological landscape.

The initiative would also strengthen the connection between ancient Eretria, the modern town and its local community, she said.

Roman bath complex forms part of a wider archaeological site

The Roman baths stand on the southern slope of the acropolis, within Eretria’s designated archaeological zone.

The public bathing complex covers approximately 400 square metres. The Swiss Archaeological School uncovered it during excavations conducted between 2009 and 2014.

The excavations shed light on Eretria’s history during the Late Roman period, when the imperial-era city underwent significant changes and contracted towards the foothills of the acropolis.

Archaeologists date the bath complex to the second and third centuries AD.

Beyond its historical significance, the site forms part of a wider archaeological ensemble, standing close to the Sebasteion, the House of Mosaics and the Neighbourhood of the Panathenaic Amphorae.

The baths provide a characteristic example of Roman bathing architecture.

Visitors will find a layout that includes an entrance vestibule leading to a large changing room, or apodyterium, equipped with benches and a mosaic floor.

The complex also features a cold room, known as the frigidarium, with a cold-water pool, followed by heated rooms that used an underfloor heating system known as a hypocaust.

These rooms include the tepidarium, laconicum and caldarium, with two hot-water bathing pools.

A small colonnaded courtyard beside the changing rooms provided space for relaxation and social interaction.

Archaeologists also discovered large furnaces on the northern side of the complex, along with an earlier vaulted bath dating from the Late Hellenistic to Early Imperial period. This discovery adds further historical depth to the use of bathing facilities in this part of ancient Eretria.

Restoration and conservation works planned

The project includes measures to protect vulnerable archaeological remains, stabilise architectural features and make the complex’s original layout and functions easier to understand.

The plans also propose expanding the archaeological zone by connecting the baths with the wider archaeological site of Eretria and nearby points of interest around the House of Mosaics.

Specific interventions include:

  • Conserving and partially reconstructing the walls of the bath rooms.
  • Installing permanent protective covering over the brick floor of the entrance vestibule.
  • Partially reconstructing the marble bench in the apodyterium.
  • Protecting the floors and hypocaust heating systems in the tepidarium, laconicum and frigidarium.
  • Protecting the remains of the colonnaded courtyard.

The restoration will follow established principles of monument conservation and presentation, with particular attention to material quality and compatibility with the original structures.

Specialist conservation and stabilisation work will also include repositioning surviving architectural elements where necessary.

The project will integrate new structures and visitor facilities discreetly into the natural and archaeological surroundings while preserving the authenticity of the ancient complex.

(Source: AMNA)

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