The sanctuary town of Gisacum appeared in the early first century AD in the form of two residential districts built around a primitive sanctuary and market place.
In the early second century, these districts were demolished and a major architectural programme was commenced. The town of Gisacum became a very large city, covering hectares.
Its highly innovative town planning involved separating public and private buildings. Major monuments were located away from residential areas; these were relegated to the outskirts along a road forming a hexagon, beneath which an aqueduct had been installed.
The hexagonal shape of this 5. All the houses were built along this road encircling the town, facing inwards towards the monumental centre and sanctuary. The monumental town centre was wholly given over to monumental public buildings: the baths now developed as an archaeological garden , the large sanctuary, the theatre, marketplace and other temples. The town had its heyday between the middle of the second and third centuries before suddenly being abandoned.
The Gisacum baths are arranged in three parts: the courtyard area surrounded by latrines, the pool, and the palaestra, surrounded by a columned gallery or portico. The courtyard area was a space for storing the equipment required to operate and maintain the baths. This work was carried out by slaves. The pool was a place for bathing and body treatments, comprising two symmetrical parts along either side of the central heating room.
