Leaving Rome and following the sea road, it takes about 30 minutes to reach Ancient Ostia, the Roman city of the Imperial age whose Latin name "Ostium" means "mouth of the river", being situated at the mouth of the Tiber river. Ostia was founded around the 4th century by king Anco Marzio and became the harbour of Rome around which a flourishing trade and business centre developed throughout the following centuries, until, after the Barbarian invasions, when the port was abandoned and silted up, the decline of Ostia began. The archeological excavations undertaken at the beginning of the XIX century have brought the ancient city back to light, a rare witness to 900 years of Roman civilization. During our walk through the ruins, our guide, will gradually instruct us about the cultural and social life of this important commercial settlement. Passing the entrance gate we will take the "Via delle Tombe" which leads to "Porta Romana", one of the three city gates.
This is the beginning of the "decumanus Maximus", the main throughfare that crosses the city from morth east to south west. Then we will arrive at the "Terme di Nettuno", where we will admire the beautiful black and white mosaics representing Neptune and Amphitrite; the theatre built by Agrippa and the Forum which formed the centre of the city. Here we will find the main public and religious buildings: "Il Capitolium" and the Temple of Rome and Augustus, the Basilica and the huge thermal baths. Near the Forum square we will also find the House of Diana and the Thermopolium, an ancient Roman bar with a marble counter and a fresco depicting the fruit and foodstuffs that were sold there. At the end of the street, the Museo Ostiense displays some of the ancient sculptures and mosaics found among the ruins.
After this fascinating walk through the past you will return to, or nearby your hotel.

Useful information: We would reccomend that you wear comfortable clothes and shoes. We ask you to pay particular attention to your guide and to wear sunglasses and sunhats in the summer months to avoid any risk of sunstroke

 

Travel in Rome, Italy. Alternative itineraries, city tours of Rome,
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