Pompeii's iconic Stabian Baths reopen to the public after three-year restoration

Pompeii's iconic Stabian Baths reopen to the public after three-year restoration - After three years of restoration the Stabian Baths complex in the buried ancient Roman city of Pompeii have finally reopened.

The work has seen the frescoes restored and walkways built to allow visitors to move easily between the men and women section of the baths which date back to the 5th Century BC.

Officials said that the restoration work - which had been interrupted twice after cases of collapse elsewhere in Pompeii had cost more than one million Euros - and that for the first time it allowed access to the women section of the Stabian Baths.

Reopened: The Stabian Baths of Pompeii are one of the world's most famous archaeological sites and Italy's top tourist attraction

At last: The baths were reopened on the occasion of the International Women's Day after a recent renovation

VIP: Women were allowed free entry to the restored baths on International Women's Day

To mark the opening on Thursday's International Women's Day, officials allowed women free access into the section and hundreds of tourists took advantage of the offer as they poured into Pompeii which was buried by an eruption in AD79 by nearby Mt Vesuvius.

Over the centuries the site has thrown up an extraordinary array of discoveries and the well preserved remains have allowed historians and tourists into what life under ancient Rome was like 2,000 years ago - although there have been complaints that parts of the site have fallen into disrepair.

The Stabian Baths complex is the oldest of three thermal bath sites that are situated in Pompei and all are divided into men's and women's sections with each having a apodyterium (changing room), frigidarium (cold bath room), tedpidarium (tepid bath room) and caldarium (hot bath room).

For all to see: A plaster cast of the remains of a citizen of Pompeii is seen in the baths

Feature: A damaged statue at the baths will be once again on show to the general public

There was also a sophisticated toilet system and a gym for use of patrons and pictures from the newly restored women's section showed showed stone slabs which would have been used for massages or relaxing by Roman noble women.

Elsewhere there was a large plunge circular plunge pool which was surrounded by alcoves and murals, with a large domed roof above allowing in light.

Capture that: A tourist take pictures of human remains inside the Thermae Stabianae, the most famous bath

Treasure it: Interior view of the Stabian Baths, where it is hoped the site will be respected by visitors

Heating in the complex was provided via a series of pipes which pumped hot and cold water into channels in the walls and floors of the rooms which were not only a public role but also a central meeting point for Roman society.

Antonio Varone, Pompei's director, said:'We are delighted that we are finally able to open the women's section of the Stabian Baths which has never been seen before by the public. To mark the day we allowed women free access into the site and they were very interested and pleased with what they saw.'

In the land of the living: Tourists visit a room containing the plaster casts of the remains of citizens of Pompeii ( dailymail.co.uk )

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