Aquae Cutiliae

Aquae Cutiliae was an ancient Roman spa built around cold mineral springs near modern Cittaducale, east of Rieti in Sabina. Named after the nearby village of Cutiliae, it was famous for its healing waters and for the nearby Lake Cutilia, considered by ancient writers the “center of Italy” and noted for its floating islands. The lake and springs were sacred to the Sabine goddess Vacuna.

The site was already important in early Sabine history. In the Roman period, emperors Vespasian and Titus kept a villa there and both died at Aquae Cutiliae. The baths stood along the Via Salaria and grew into a large terraced complex, including a huge rock-cut pool (natatio), nymphaea, heated rooms, and an ancient roadway. Most remains date from the late Republic to the 4th century AD.

Across Lake Cutilia are the so-called “Baths of Titus,” likely part of a large villa. The intensely cold, mineral-rich springs were praised in antiquity for treating stomach ailments.

Address
Terme di Cotilia, Cittaducale, Italy

Established
2nd century BCE