roman

By alpinista from Virginia, Summer 2010 Alpinista spends a week hiking the Hadrian's Wall trail in July 2010. This trip report was originally published on SlowTrav.com. Background When my legs were much younger (and my wife more tolerant of my adventures), I climbed mountains in Europe, Asia...

Cirencester, the "capital of the Cotswolds", is a busy Cotswold market town with roots in Ancient Rome. When the Romans conquered Britain in 43 AD they built the town of Corinium, second only to Londinium (London) in size. Corinium became Cirencester and there are still Roman remains in the town...

One of the largest amphitheaters in Britain, built in the 2nd century.

Drawing of Roman Corinium.

Floor mosaics found in Cirencester.

Remains of a Roman column.

I like the hairstyle and tattoos depicted on these early people - not that different from young people in Cirencester today.

Remains of a Roman villa in the countryside north of Cirencester.

Walking along the River Coln near the villa.

Remains of the mosaic floors of the villa.

Underfloor heating system.

Road signs to the villa.

Bath is a beautiful small city set in the River Avon valley south of the Cotswolds (population 88,000). First there were the Druids who settled here because of the natural hot springs. Next came the Romans whose bath complex remains at the center of town. The Bath Abbey was built during the...

Public garden behind one of the houses in The Circus.

Walking in the gardens behind The Circus.

The large lawn in front of the Royal Crescent is separated from the public gardens by a “Ha-Ha”.

The Royal Crescent, 30 row houses in a half circle.

The Royal Crescent was designed by John Wood the Elder and built by his son from 1767 to 1775.

The Assembly Rooms are mentioned in some of Jane Austen's novels.

You can tour the Assembly Rooms and then go to the Museum of Costume in the basement.