You will leave Rome and only after 30 minutes arrive in Ancient Ostia, the best preserved Roman town after Pompeii. In ancient times the city was located at the mouth of the river Tiber, about 20 miles west of Rome. The shoreline has since moved seawards, due to silting so today Ostia is today still near the Tiber but it is now about 2 miles from the beach.

You will see how the Tiber River was once used as a harbor but in the Imperial period two harbor basins were added in the north near the present location of the Leonardo Da Vinci airport. According to ancient writers such as Ennius, Livius, Cicero, and Dionysius of Halicarnassus, Ostia was founded by the fourth king of Rome, Ancus Marcius who may have ruled in the 7th century BC. No archeological remains have been found however, in or around Ostia to support this theory. It is probable that a settlement di existed because Livius mentions Ostia more than once in his accounts.

You will be able to imagine how Ostia flourished until the Barbarians invaded and the port was abandoned and Ancient Ostia began its decline. Your visit here will begin at the Roman Gate of Porta Romana. You will see the Forum which was the center of this thriving city and further on you will find the Baths of Neptune.

There are some remarkably beautiful black and white mosaics here representing Neptune and Amphitrite. You will also see the small restored theater built by Agrippa that can hold up to 3,000 spectators. There are many public and religious building in Ostia Antica. Besides the Temple of Rome and Augustus you will be astounded at the size of the huge thermal baths. You will be interested to see an ancient Roman store with a marble counter and a fresco depicting the fruit and other foods that were sold here in ancient times. There is a museum in Ostia Antica, the “Museo Ostiense” where you will see some of Ostia’s relics displayed.

A trip to Ancient Ostia is something you will remember and marvel at forever.