Roman Cityscape

The arrival of the Romans reshaped Tharros with a distinctive infrastructure.

Gallery

Roman Infrastructure

The arrival of the Romans transformed Tharros. Basalt-paved streets were laid; the greatest of these, up to five meters wide, divided the town into large quarters. An efficient sewer system ran beneath the roadways. This was one web of infrastructure; another web supplied water for the city via a system of cisterns that collected rainwater, wells that drew from the groundwater, and a small aqueduct. 

Roman Baths

The Romans were known for building public baths in cities large and small, and Tharros too had at least three bathing complexes. They were well furnished with pools ranging from chilly to hot (frigidarium, tepidarium, calidarium) as well as dressing rooms and other service spaces. The heated rooms were distinguished by a hot air cavity beneath their floors. 

^{Photo credits: Archive of the Mont’e Prama Foundation; photo: Nicola Castangia.}