La cittadina di Bath, nel Somerset, è l’unica località termale di tutto il Regno Unito. Essa beneficia di una sorgente d’acqua custodita gelosamente nel ventre della Terra a circa duemila metri di profondità. Le proprietà salutari di quest’acqua erano note fin dall’epoca romana. La fonte fu trascurata per molti secoli finché la regina Anna all’inizio del Settecento si recò a Bath per curare la sua gotta, dando così l’impulso al rilancio della località e dei bagni termali. In breve tempo recarsi a Bath in villeggiatura diventò un must per le famiglie aristocratiche inglesi ed europee.
What to Do and See in Bath, a UNESCO Heritage Site
Today Bath is a beautiful place, a UNESCO heritage site, where it is still possible to experience the refined atmosphere of eighteenth-century vacations. It offers many things to see, do, and try, and the very short distances allow you to get everywhere on foot, enabling you to discover many picturesque corners at any moment. In short, it is the ideal destination for a relaxing weekend, but also one of great inspiration.
1 The Roman Baths
The Roman Baths are the most important monument in Bath. The best-known part is the large outdoor pool, but the tour includes much more. In fact, the complex was very extensive and intricate. Thus we can see the remains of the various thermal pools, the hydraulic works that allowed the system to operate, the surrounding streets, and the temple dedicated to Minerva Sulis. A new area has recently opened, the gymnasium, where the ancient Romans practiced their sports activities.
Along the entire route, archaeological finds from excavation campaigns are displayed, grouped by thematic areas, which help to deeply understand the monument through the stories of the people who built it, frequented it, or lived nearby. The most notable object is a bronze head of Minerva Sulis, preserved to us in excellent condition.
2 Bath Abbey
The other great city monument, just a step away from the Roman Baths, is the Bath Abbey. Its origins date back to the Saxon period, when a monastery was built on the site, later replaced in the 11th century by the Norman cathedral. The current abbey, in Gothic style, dates from around 1500 and was restored by the great Victorian architect Gilbert Scott. The most notable feature is the stained glass windows, dating from the restoration era, which cover a large part of the walls, flooding the building with light.
One of these depicts the coronation of Edgar the Peaceful, the first King of England, which took place precisely at Bath Abbey in 973.
3 Georgian Bath
When Bath in the eighteenth century became the preferred vacation spot for the aristocracy, there was a need to create residences worthy of the expectations of illustrious guests. Thus, between 1734 and 1774, architects John Wood father and son created the sequence of buildings and public spaces that starts from Queen Square and culminates at the Royal Crescent, passing through Gay Street and The Circus. A common element is the local yellow limestone that characterizes the constructions. These are rows of individual residences unified by a single facade. Thus those who lived there had the illusion of the magnificence of their country house while only having a city apartment available.
The Crescent was the most exclusive and coveted complex. Its name acquired the epithet “Royal” for having hosted on several occasions at number 16 the Duke of York Frederick, the second son of George III. To get an idea of what the residences of the Royal Crescent were like during its golden era, you can visit the house museum at number 1.
A house on Gay Street houses the Jane Austen Centre, where, also through interactive experiences, the environment of the writer during the years she lived in Bath (not in the same residence but another on the same street) is recreated.
At the center of the nobility’s holidays in the eighteenth century were balls, afternoon teas, and gambling. All this took place in the beautiful Assembly Rooms, near the Royal Crescent. Part of the building now houses a fashion museum, while the reception rooms, when not booked for private events, are freely open to the public.
4 Pulteney Bridge and the River Avon
The River Avon is a fundamental part of the Bath landscape. It can be explored on mini-cruises offered by some local operators, departing near the Pulteney Bridge. For the more adventurous, there is also the possibility to rent canoes or SUPs or even a narrowboat for navigation on the Kennet and Avon Canal.
The Avon is crossed, at a point in the heart of the city, by the Pulteney Bridge, an eighteenth-century bridge designed by the famous neoclassical architect Robert Adam. Since there are enclosed spaces on both sides of the structure that today host small shops and cafes, the Pulteney Bridge has historically been compared to Florence’s Ponte Vecchio. The comparison is perhaps a bit daring, but Bath’s bridge is nonetheless very romantic and worth a visit.
5 Prior Park and the Bath Skyline
Just outside the historic center, on the other side of the Avon, is the Prior Park Landscape Garden, a large monumental park designed by the poet Alexander Pope and gardener Capability Brown. The park was fundamental for the development of the English garden style, where the greenery of the natural environment alternates and integrates with architectural elements and small lakes. The main feature of Prior Park is a Palladian-style bridge. There is also a Gothic-style temple, an artificial cave, some small lakes, and a small canal.
Five minutes from Prior Park, you reach the Bath skyline, a circular hill walk about 10 kilometers long. Along this path, you can admire woods, the remains of an Iron Age fort and a Roman settlement, and some follies, architectural whims without a specific practical function. But above all, the skyline offers breathtaking views of the city.
6 Thermae Spa
The tradition of thermal baths continues with the modern Thermae Spa, which uses the healthy waters well known to the Romans and Georgian aristocrats. The Thermae are located in a building with exquisite contemporary design. The basic package (£37 – £42 on weekends) offers a two-hour experience starting from the panoramic heated pool on the third floor. Here you can relax and be pampered by various hydromassage jets while enjoying a 360-degree view of the city.
You can then continue with rooms alternating heat and cold, moving from aromatic steam baths to chromotherapy showers, from infrared saunas to the ice room. And finally, in the basement, there is the Minerva Bath, a large thermal pool that ideally takes us to the natatio of the Roman Baths.
Opposite the Thermae Spa is the Cross Bath, with a thermal pool enclosed in a suggestive neoclassical structure. The Cross Bath can be rented for private use for up to 10 people (cost starting from £400).
7 Shopping
The main boutique streets in Bath are Bath Street, Milsom Street, and Milsom Place, right in the city center. Bath is also quite renowned for furniture and home accessory shops. The home design district is Walcot Street, near the Pulteney Bridge. Here you can find furniture, fabrics, ceramics, both with a vintage flavor and contemporary taste.
The former Green Park station is being transformed into a district of offices and commercial activities. Under the arches, you can find some unusual and unique shops, such as Resolution Records, a true sanctuary for vinyl records.
8 What to Eat in Bath
A gastronomic creation originates from Bath, the bunn, a sort of small loaf that can be cut in half and filled with sweet or savory toppings. The bunn was invented at the end of the seventeenth century by Sally Lunn, and the recipe remains a secret to this day. You can go and taste it in its charming café, located in the oldest house in Bath, dating from 1482.
For those wanting to try an aristocratic experience, the beautiful Pump Room of the baths is open for breakfast or afternoon tea. There are also numerous restaurants, often in historic buildings: the Ivy Bath Brasserie, for example, offers traditional English cuisine in an elegant historic venue on Milsom Street.
9 Where to Sleep in Bath
Bath offers many possibilities to stay in Georgian style. The most prestigious is the Royal Crescent Hotel, at number 16 Royal Crescent, the same residence where the Duke of York stayed. The love for detail, quality of service, and the splendid garden behind make the Royal Crescent a destination in itself. Room prices start from about £400.
Diametrically opposite, but very functional for a weekend in Bath, is the Z Hotel. Located in a very central position, the Z Hotel in Bath, like all those of the same chain, is based on the concept of compact luxury. The rooms are not very large (and in most cases do not have a window), but are equipped with everything needed. In short, a valid choice, especially if traveling alone, with a really competitive price starting from £45.
