All Great Tourist Cities have a MUST VIEW site, that most visitors should visit, but most Tourists do not visit or do not even know of its exisitance. OSTIA ANTICA is one such site.
Ask people about POMPEI and 99 percent know about it, but did you know about OSTIA.
GETTING THERE:- --------------------------- Go to Rome for a few nights. Just Joking.
Regular trains run from ROMA - LIDO di OSTIA station which is next to PIRAMIDE Metro stop on LINE B on the Rome Metro. Journey time approx 30 mins. Cost about 1 Euro. (In fact our 75 min Rome Bus ticket covered us).
The rome METRO does have a reputation for pick-pockets. And while we would not use the Metro in central Rome because of this risk , we did not have or see any problem on this stretch which is all above surface.
The 30 min Trip is not very scenic as you are just passing out of the Rome Suberbs.
On arrival at Ostia Antica station you leave by the station front. Go about 100 meters forward, cross the main road by the footbridge. A further 15 min walk brings you to the Entrance to the site.
Entry by the Ticket office, Entry 4 Euros. Tuesday through Sunday 9 am. until 1 hour before sunset.
PRACTICALITIES :- -----------------------------
This is a very large site, you can not DO IT in a day.
It is very exposed, as most Historic Sites to the elements. So it can get very Hot, Dress sensible, plenty of water and Sun Block. Lots of film or a large Memory Card (and batteries).
THE SITE:- ----------------
The excavations of this antient Port of Rome OSTIA constitute one of the finest Ancient Roman sites you will see anywhere.
Whereas Pompei was blasted by a Volcano erruption. This site was slowly covered in silt as the Rivers and Coast line changed. Thus the state of preservation gives you a wonderful experience of a Roman City, some of the Buildings as the cover photo show 2 or 3 stories high.
The town was abandoned in the 4th Century . Ostia was Rome's principle port and a thriving Commercail centre.
It is much easier to visulize a Roman town than hours pottering about the Forum in the Centre of Rome.
As you enter from the Ticket office entrance you are on Decumanus Maximus, the main street of Ostia. This leads you west, towards the sea, past the Baths of Neptune on the right, where there is an interesting Mosiac (All seemed to be Black and White Mosiacs).
Further on is the town's Commercail Centre, otherwise known as Piazzale delle Corporazioni. Shops and offices here speciallised in enterprises from all over the Ancient world, and they have Mosiacs in front that denote their trade - grain merchants, ship-fitters, ropemakers etc etc.
Flanking one side of the square is the THEATRE of Ostia, which has been restored and is used for Concerts and Roman Tragic Plays, what better way to spend an evening.
On the left of the square is the House of Apulis which has fantastic Mosiac Floors. Which can be viewed from above on the second floor. Behind is the House of Diana which is probably the best preserved House in Ostia. with dark mysterious rooms around a central courtyard.
You can climb onto the roof for a view of Ostia, and here you get a feeling for the size of the town which stretches away into the distance, and they have only uncovered about a quarter of the site.
After here you cross to the Thermopolium,an ancient Roman Cafe, COMPLETE with seats outside, a high counter and the reamins of the menu on the wall.
North of the House of Diana is a small museum holding a variety of articales from the site, including wal paintings depicting daily life in Ostia.
In the centre of the site is a Cafe with Patio and lots of tables. Not as in this country run by a large Chain serving Plastic Food in Plastic Wrappers. No good fresh food.
Our overall impression was WOW they were building Towns like this when we were in MUD HUTS.
Please if you get the chance Visit this well worth site, and Enjoy.
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