The Temple of Bacchus is smaller than its neighbour but far better preserved, and many visitors find it the more beautiful of the two. Almost the entire outer colonnade survives, with 42 of the original 46 columns still standing, their Corinthian capitals remarkably intact. Walk the full circuit of the outer portico before going inside — the carved friezes are extraordinarily detailed, with vine scrolls, birds, insects, and mythological figures covering almost every surface.
The interior is entered from the east end via a grand staircase and through a doorway whose carved decoration rivals anything in the Roman world. Inside, the cella is lined with engaged columns and niched walls that would once have held cult statues. The coffered ceiling of the doorway is partially intact and gives a sense of the original richness.
From the temple's southern side you get the best view of the massive foundation stones of the Temple of Jupiter next door — an unexpected reminder of the engineering scale that underpins everything here.