The Roman Thermae of Maximinus and its adjoining amphitheatre were first discovered in 1977, and excavation work on the site still continues today. These vast and impressive ruins date back to the second half of the 1st century. Once upon a time, they were the public baths of the city of Bracara Augusta (later Braga), which was the centre of the Roman province of Gallaecia. For the Romans, the public baths represented a venue for conviviality, relaxation and wellbeing. Rituals involved physical exercise, hot and cold baths, saunas and massages with aromatic oils. Make sure you watch the introductory film in English at the visitor centre for a better understanding of what this amazing complex looked like in its heyday.
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