Roman villa in Calonge yields discovery of luxury imperial baths

Archaeologists have discovered a luxury Roman bath complex at the Collet de Sant Antoni villa in Calonge, Spain. The excavation, conducted by the University of Girona, has partially revealed two pools—one semicircular and one rectangular—dating back to the Imperial era, approximately between the 1st century BC and the 5th century AD.

The discovery highlights the significant wealth of the site. The baths still retain mortar flooring, parts of the benches, and original piping. Additionally, researchers have uncovered new walls belonging to the earlier Republican phase of the villa (6th to 1st century BC), including a large granite wall that may indicate the presence of a tower.

Previous findings at the site, such as a decorative vessel featuring a two-headed serpent, have linked the villa to the worship of the Eastern deity Sabazi, a rare form of private cult in the Iberian Peninsula. The villa's history spans several stages, evolving from a late Republican structure into a grand Imperial villa built on a large terrace.