A drip into Bath; TRAVEL What did the Romans ever do for us?

Chris Glynn-Jones discovers that they saw the potential of a sleepy village with the UK's only hot springs and helped create a rather wonderful place.

Byline: Chris Glynn-Jones * ESTLING below the Cotswolds Hills is Bath, a city where I would be happy to spend every weekend - and weekdays would be pretty good too. It's a World Heritage city in which the trademark sandy Cotswold stone Cotswold stone is a yellow oolitic limestone quarried in many places the Cotswold Hills in the south midlands of England. When weathered the colour of buildings made or faced with this stone is often described as 'honey' or 'golden'. lends almost every building a classic and palatial palatial adj. 1. Of or suitable for a palace: last minute apartments Rome. 2. Of the nature of a palace, as in spaciousness or ornateness: a palatial yacht. air. We discovered the smart and the chic amongst grand streets and tiny arcades - many punctuated by jaw-dropping architecture. We stayed over a Sunday and Monday at the elegant Brindleys Boutique B&B, a 10 minute stroll from the city centre. We found ourselves torn between the beautifully appointed sunny rooms and warm welcome of Brindleys, with its immaculate and fresh French-themed rooms and spending more time exploring the city. After checking in and being given a complimentary parking permit, we sauntered along the River Avon into town. Right at the heart of the city, where Bath Abbey soars above the river, we stopped for a coffee at the tiny Bertinet Bakery and Cafe serving locally-made French patisseries and delicious French breads; an excellent base from which to plan our day. Armed with a fistful fistful

n. pl. fistfuls The amount that a fist can hold. Noun 1. fistful - the quantity that can be held in the hand handful containerful - the quantity that a container will hold of guides from the helpful Bath Visitor Information Centre, first stop was the Roman Baths, where Britain's only hot springs see a quarter of a million gallons of water rise daily, at a temperature of 46.5 degrees, the lifeblood of the city's prosperity. In AD 43 the Romans, recognising the restorative benefits of the springs, developed a sophisticated series of baths and temples at the centre of what they named Aquae Sulis. An excellent audio guide narrated by travel writer Bill Bryson helped us spend an absorbing two hours, with insights into the history and views of the various baths before finally arriving at the central thermal waters, which though busy with tourists, proved a haven of tranquility. The centre of Bath is a shopper's paradise - familiar stores abound but there is also an eclectic mix of fashion, jewellery and boutique stores that you don't often find in other cities. A stroll through the centre of town along Milsom Street reveals the grandeur of the everyday buildings, the majority of which were built in the Georgian period or style. A few circuits of The Circus, a circle of 33 stunning houses built around a central park, and influenced by the Colosseum Colosseum or Coliseum (both: kls`m), Ital. Colosseo, common name of the Flavian Amphitheater in Rome, near the southeast end of the Forum, between the Palatine and Esquiline hills., reveals fascinating architectural detail; and from there it's a two-minute walk to arguably Bath's crowning architectural achievement The Royal Crescent is an imposing sweep of Georgian design, with far-reaching views of the city over beautiful public parkland. A curve of four-storey houses, dominated by huge Ionic columns is a must-see; squint squint: see strabismus. a bit and you're in another era. We stopped for a guided tour at No 1 Royal Crescent - a magnificently restored home which reveals a wonderfully vital picture of life as it must have been in Georgian Bath. Wandering back into town, we were brought back to the present day with a jolt. Smart cafes and restaurants were beginning to come alive in the spring sunshine and there was an air of quiet sophistication sophisticate

v. sophisticated, sophisticating, sophisticates rome apartment rental 1. To cause to become less natural, especially to make less naive and more worldly. 2.. A brief stop at our boutique B&B to freshen up before returning to town for a quiet drink at the excellent Salamander salamander, an amphibian of the order Urodela, or Caudata. Salamanders have tails and small, weak limbs; superficially they resemble the unrelated lizards (which are reptiles), but they are easily distinguished by their lack of scales and claws, and by their moist, and dinner to follow. The next day we reluctantly rolled out of our super queen bed and were rewarded with an excellent breakfast. Fans of city bus tours, we spent the morning on the breezy open top deck of Bath's tour bus, soaking up the grandeur of the city from a new viewpoint. There was only one way we could finish our fabulous weekend - an afternoon of peace and relaxation at the Bath Thermae thermae: see baths. thermae Public bathing complex of ancient Rome, designed for relaxation and social activity as well as bathing. The Romans developed public baths to a high degree of sophistication and standardization. Spa. Even the Romans would be impressed by this place, drawing on the same thermal springs, Bath Thermae Spa is as relaxing a place as you will ever encounter. Swirling warm waters in the ground floor pool, four aroma steam rooms, each with different heats and scents and chance to ascend to the open air rooftop pool where massage jets and bubble seats relaxed us while we took in the magnificent vista that is Bath and its surrounding hills. Also available are various therapeutic treatments - it really is something of a sanctuary. Now you see why we want to spend every weekend the same way. * Chris was the guest of Brindleys. Prices for a double room start at pounds 110 per room per night. Brindleys, 14 Pulteney Gardens, Bath, BA2 4HG. Telephone: 01225 310444, e-mail info@brindleysbath. co.uk or visitrome apartments for rent apartment in rome apartments in rome