The Roman Pool is your final view of opulence before leaving Hearst Castle. You walk downhill from the castle and go through this very large pool area to catch a bus to the bottom of the hill.
If you aren’t already blown away by what you saw up in the castle in the clouds, this pool should put you over the top. It’s called the Roman Pool as it’s concept is to mimic the old Roman baths, still found all over Europe. The Romans loved their baths and it was one of the first things they build in a newly conquered territory. And just like this pool, they were heated too.
But, I think even the most jaded of old Romans would be blown away by this pool. My photo doesn’t do it justice. It’s huge! I’ve seen many a Roman bath in my European travels and none equaled this in size. I don’t know the dimensions, but on the roof are two tennis courts…not side-by-side, but back-to-back!
It is t-shaped with a hidden diving platform built one-story above where the T’s join. And, if you turned 180 degrees from where I took this photos, you would see the exact same view at the other end…three windows and a door reflected in the calm water. Thank God no one was swimming this day as it would have ruined my shot.
Around the pool, there are eight statues of Roman gods. Oh, and those tiles you see around the pool that look like gold. Well, they are gold…24 carat gold to be precise. In fact, those tiles are one inch square…same with the other glass tiles of cobalt blue and orange…and they go all around the pool as well as below the water. You gotta love the beauty of it all!
It took seven years to build this pool and three of those years to lay the tiles. Too bad Hearst had to wait so long for a swim. Oh, I forgot. He could swim in the outdoor Neptune Pool while he waited.
I just picture myself here reading a book, taking an occasional dip, eating a roast beef sandwich with chips for lunch, while waiting for Happy Hour up at the castle to begin. What a life! Beats being an old Roman.
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