Porta Romana Thermal Baths
PORTA ROMANA THERMAL BATHS
Sources
A little bit of history
Not everyone knows that Milan has a long thermal tradition dating back to the Roman period. The “Thermae Herculianae” were built at the end of the III century by the emperor Massimiano who was also called “ Erculeo “ ( from which the thermal baths took their name ) during the period in which Mediolanum became the capital of the Occidental Roman Empire. In Milan, the thermal baths were built near Piazza San Babila, a zone characterised by water abundance. It is thought that the spa in Milan was built where it flowed the “ Acqualunga “ a trough that was born in Precotto, along Viale Monza; during the Roman Empire it was an affluent of the “Seveso” and with it contributed to the water supply of Milan. The remains of a presumed Roman bridge found in San Babila are attributed to its crossing. In more recent historical times, the spring water flowed abundantly in the gardens of Villa Finzi in Gorla, forming a small lake, reached Loreto, and descended along present-day Corso Buenos Aires and Corso Venezia, irrigating the gardens of Porta Orientale and forming streams in the Public Gardens by the end of the 19th century. Of the monumental baths, little remains today due to the barbarian invasions
The waters of Milan
A 2020 study by geologist Francesco Nicolidi highlights that the waters in the subsoil of the municipality
of Milan represents a fundamental resource for the city.
In particular, the sulfurous thermal mineral waters of the deep aquifer, deriving from residual aquifers of marine origin have a chemical composition similar to the hydrothermal sources. For this reason, it could be used for the construction of thermal centres in the city of Milan.
This publication confirms that the mineral waters could represent for Milan an important economic resource, which is based on the exclusivity of owning thermal baths with a natural character, fed by aquifers deep underground and not subject to human conditioning.
The exploitation of these deposits poses some practical limitations, however, the presence of thermal baths with natural mineral waters, in addition to increasing the prestige of the facilities would be a source of attraction for many people, since it would be easier to reach than the thermal systems currently used and present in other areas.
The Milan Spa today
The water used in the wellness centre at Piazzale Medaglie d’Oro comes straight from the city’s water system, not from Valtellina as the owners had hoped. It’s treated, monitored, heated, and ionized before use. The owners thought they could drill at Piazzale Medaglie d’Oro to find mineralized water similar to thermal springs, given Milan’s underground resources. However, geological studies show the layers are uneven, making it tricky to extract water that way. Despite this, the Porta Romana Wellness Center, surrounded by historic Spanish walls and housed in the former ATM recreation centre, now offers relaxation and wellness services to city residents
From funeral station to wellness centre
The Porta Romana Funeral Station was built in 1908 for a special tram service to carry bodies to Milan’s cemeteries. It was designed by architect Pasquale Tettamanzi. The need for a new station arose because of Milan’s rapid population growth, especially in the south. The existing station on Via Bramante, over five kilometres away from Porta Romana and Porta Vigentina, was inconvenient for residents, especially during winter and for the less wealthy. The City of Milan planned to build another station in the south to collect the deceased and funeral processions from nearby neighbourhoods and transport them to cemeteries. Processions to the Monumental Cemetery had to pass through narrow downtown streets and tram lines, causing traffic issues.
Piazzale Medaglie d’Oro was chosen for its proximity to the Bastioni ring road with existing tram tracks, its location at a major road junction, and its relative seclusion from nearby residents.
The decision to build the new station was made within the bastions near Porta Romana’s former customs post on Mount Tabor, named after the 1799 battle won by the French. In 1818, debris from breaches in the Spanish bastion walls created the hill.
The Liberty-style station included service rooms, two side halls, a tram depot, and a canopy. It was shielded from view by a wall and gate. The black tram used for transporting coffins since 1907 was specially designed with two cars: one for the coffin and the other for relatives. It had heating for winter and ventilation for summer.
Today, in the spa’s beautiful gardens, an old tram has been turned into a sauna. QC TermeMilano restored the historic ‘Ventotto’ tram in the courtyard, in agreement with Milan’s authorities for preservation. Known as the Wellness Tram, it’s the world’s first bio sauna inside a tram. Originally a place of mourning, it’s now an exclusive wellness centre with attractive indoor and outdoor spaces that preserve the area’s historical beauty.
Podcast
Podcast: A little bit of history
Podcast: The waters of Milan
Podcast: The Milan Spa today
Podcast: From funeral station to wellness centre
Traduzione in lingua inglese e podcast realizzati da Anna Capra – Progetto PCTO con Regina Mundi
Registrazione Podcast a cura di Luigi Maisto
Supervisione – Piera Scudeletti EVF