The perfect half-day tour from Rome to learn more about ancient Roman ruins but not have time to travel to Pompeii. Ancient Ostia Group Tour
Departure from Rome with your guide via Ostiense port, the ancient walls erected by Emperor Aurelian in 270 ad, and the massive marble Pyramid of Caius Cestius, which dates from the first century BC. After about 20 km, you’ll reach the excavations of Ostia Antica, located at the mouth of the Tiber River on the Mediterranean coast. Visit the seaport of ancient Rome. Rediscovered only in the XIX century and excavated mainly from the 1920s to the 1940s, Ostia was probably founded in the seventh-century bc for salt extraction from the marshes. Still, later in the IV century BC, it became a port and military naval securing access to Rome across the Tiber.
The Ancient Ostia Group Tour continues with the superb Mediterranean environment typical of the excavations, covered by majestic pines and cypress trees; it is as fascinating as the archaeological area of Pompeii, but without the same crowd and only 20 minutes from Rome. Thirty-four hectares were excavated from what became a ghost town when an epochal flood changed the course of the Tiber. You will know what life was like in this ancient seaport with intriguing explanations and sure of your erudite entertainment guide. You will discover the various types of settlements and blocks (insulae), low and middle classes, and visit the residences of wealthy classes while walking along the network of intact roads.
With the Ancient Ostia Group Tour, you can explore the interiors of the temples, Roman baths, shops, mills, taverns, and public bathrooms, all with mosaic floors and colorful frescoed walls, with decorations such as stucco and statues, which will give tourists an idea of teeming life of the port. Return to Rome and end of Tour of ancient Ostia.
Ostia Antica takes its name from the Latin word ostium, meaning mouth. Founded as a military base, it became an important commercial port for Rome’s grain supply.
Starting from Porta Romana and proceeding along the main road – Decumanus Maximus – we will visit the old metropolis and Piazzale Della Vittoria.
Next, we will visit the Baths of Neptune, one of the city’s public services constructed by Adriano and ornated with fine mosaics. Behind the Baths of Neptune, the Firemen’s barrack of Adrian’s age.
The visit will continue with the Theater erected by Agrippa in the 1st-century bc. You have a beautiful view of the excavations from the top of the staircase.
After visiting the House of Diana, we will reach the center of Ostia, where we can admire the Forum, the political center of Ostia, the Temple of Rome, and Augustus and the Baths.
The excursion will end with a visit to the Basilica: a large Room in the form of a rectangle encircled by an arcade, on the right side of which we find the Round temple dating from the 3rd century.
| MEETING TIME: | According to your needs |
| MEETING POINT / DEPARTURE: | At the Hotel in Rome or at the entrance of Ancient Ostia |
Rates per person vary according to the number of participants in the guided tour
