There are certain things you need to do on any visit to Rome.  The obvious would be to see the Colosseum, visit the Vatican and eat gelato on the Spanish Steps.  I’d like to add a new ‘must do’ to the list: spend some time in a Roman Bath House.

I visited Templum Salutis with my girlfriends on a weekend getaway and we had the most amazing time.

If you want to experience a true Roman Bath experience, step away from the tourist area and have a taxi take you to this hidden gem.  You will be greeted at the Hammam with warm smiles and a tranquil atmosphere.  We quickly changed out of our street clothes, keen to begin our Roman Bath House experience.

The Marble Tables

Not being sure what to expect, we made our way to the first room where we each pulled up a seat on the marble tables and the scrubbing began.  We were covered in lotions and potions and masks were put on our hair.  Then we lied down to enjoy the steam and serenity.

When we’d had enough steam our masseuses reappeared with exfoliating gloves where we were exfoliated in places we never knew needed exfoliating.  After a thorough scrub down our skin was met with buckets of warm water and we then turned over for my favourite part of the experience.

Lying on our stomachs atop the marble tables, we suddenly found our bodies engulfed in light, fluffy and amazingly scented bubbles.  I’ve have my fair share of massages, but I’ve never had one quite as unique as this!  The bubbles made for a smooth, and slipper massage that smelled fantastic!  I could have stayed under the bubbles forever, but there were other treatments to be spoiled with!

Photo courtesy of Templum Salutis

Hydro Massage

With the masks rinsed out of our hair, my locks were left feeling smooth, silky and healthy.  We made our way to the hydro massage room where we slipped into the bath and enjoyed the ambiance of the dimly lit, beautifully tiled room.

Photo courtesy of Templum Salutis

The Meditation Room

The atmosphere of the meditation room was absolutely heavenly for four moms with no children in sight.  Quiet, serene and completely relaxing; it made for an undeniably enjoyable experience.  We soaked up the peacefulness as we snacked on fresh fruit and herbal tea.

The Massage

Just when we thought we’d reached the height of the Roman Bath House experience, we were escorted into massage rooms, where any last inkling of stress was banished under the firm hands of our masseurs.

I want this Hamman to be part of my daily routine!  Actually, I need this Hammam to be part of every day routine.  It was the ultimate Roman experience that took us out of the tourist scene and into a little slice of heaven.  We definitely felt like Roman goddesses; even if only for a few hours.

Thanks to Templum Salutis for welcoming me as a guest.  All opinions are my own.