| Situated amongst cypress and Mediterranean pine trees, the ruins of the port of ancient Rome reveal more than any other monument in the capital about 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 whose Latin name ‘Ostium’ means ‘mouth of the river’, reflecting its position along the Tiber river.Your visit to Ostia Antica itself starts at ‘Via delle Tombe’ which leads to the ‘Porta Romana’, one of the city’s three gates. This is the beginning of the ‘Decumanus Maximus’, the main throughfare that crosses the city from north east to south west. Then you will arrive at the ‘Terme di Nettuno’ where you can admire the beautiful black and white mosaics representing Neptune and Amphitrite and the theatre built by Agrippa and the Forum which formed the centre of the city. Here you will discover the principle public buildings, ‘Il Capitolium', 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’ which is an ancient Roman bar with a marble counter and a fresco depicting the fruit and foodstuffs that were sold there. At the end of Via dei Dipinti, the Museo Ostiense you can see some of the ancient sculptures and mosaics found among the ruins. After this fascinating stroll through the past you will return to the vicinity of your hotel. |
Visit Ostia and its ruins that tell you about the history and battles of the past. 
