The area situated near the Baptistery of S. Maria Maggiore (6th century A.D.), revealed structures belonging to public buildings which, on the basis of the results obtained, were continuously occupied from the Republican era to the end of the medieval period. The imposing nature of the structures suggests they were public buildings probably standing in the forum area.

The stratigraphy shows the Roman structures overlaid by walls belonging to 19th century buildings next to which are communicating tanks (including one with an impressed Greek cross in the wall plaster) and a well. The continuation of the investigations to a depth of 7 m below present ground level brought to light structures relating to a bath building characterised, at present, by the presence of a room that is probably the changing room ( apodyterion ). The apodyterion (?) which stands to a height of over 3 m has a series of niches in the upper part, whose function is still being studied. The niches were built of bricks covered with a thick layer of plaster. When the building was restructured refined stucco bas-reliefs were created, bordered by architectural elements such as columns and doorways. The reliefs show mythological scenes relating to the Hercules cycle. The figures’ muscles are rendered with perfect over-elaboration; the classical style bodies, on a neutral background, can be dated to the early Imperial period.

The rooms in the baths are also characterised by the presence of a bench along the walls and elegant mosaic pavements with alternating black and white tesserae. Subsequent alterations, attested by partition walls, blockings and the superimposing of diverse construction techniques, show that in subsequent periods the rooms were heavily occupied and their functions diversified. To be noted is the presence of a storage room in which complete vessels containing food stuffs were found in situ.

Finally, it should be noted that the abandonment phase of the area is indicated by “a cassa” burials datable to around the 6th century A.D.