Ancient Ostia Tour (Ostia Antica) from Rome

Situated amongst cypress and Mediterranean pine trees, the ruins of the port of ancient Rome reveal more than any other monument in the capital, what everyday life must have been like in ancient times.

Leaving Rome and following the road leading to the sea, Via del Mare, it takes about 30 minutes to reach Ostia, the Roman city of the Imperial age. Its Latin name ‘Ostium’ means ‘mouth of the river’, reflecting its position along the Tiber River. Ostia was founded around the 7th century BC by King Anco Marzio and became the harbor of Rome around which, throughout the following centuries, Ostia developed into a flourishing trade and business centre. Following the Barbarian invasions, the decline of Ostia began when the port was abandoned and became silted up. The archaeological excavations undertaken at the beginning of the 19th century have brought the ancient city back to light, a rare witness to 900 years of Roman civilization. 

During your walk through the ruins, your guide will tell you about the cultural and social life of this interesting commercial settlement. Your visit to Ostia Antica itself starts at ‘Via delle Tombe’ which leads to the ‘Porta Romana’, one of the three city’s gates. This is the beginning of the ‘Decumanus Maximus’, the main thoroughfare that crosses the city from northeast to southwest. Then you will arrive at the ‘Baths of Neptune’ where you can admire the beautiful black and white mosaics representing Neptune and Amphitrite, the Roman Theatre built by Agrippa, and the Forum considered the centre of the city.

Here you will discover the main public buildings, such as the ‘Capitolium’ and the temple of Rome and Augustus, the Basilica and the large thermal baths. Near the forum square you will also find the House of Diana and the ‘Thermopolium’ an ancient Roman bar with a marble counter and a fresco depicting fruits and foodstuffs that were sold in this place. At the end of Via dei Dipinti, the Museo Ostiense exhibits some of the ancient sculptures and mosaics found among the ruins.