Discover Ancient Ostia: A Journey Through Time
This approximately three-hour itinerary will take you to the eastern part of ancient Ostia, a true seaside district of Rome. Starting from the entrance to the excavations and leading to the evocative Piazza del Foro, you’ll have the opportunity to explore its most famous monuments, immersing yourself in its history, urban development, and the daily life of its inhabitants.
What You’ll See Along the Way
We’ll begin our journey with the necropolis, located along the Via Ostiense and close to the late-Republican walls. Here, we’ll delve into the funerary rites and the various types of burials used by the ancient Romans.
Continuing on, we’ll enter the city through the Porta Romana and walk along the Decumanus, the main thoroughfare flanked by tabernae and horrea (warehouses), testaments to the vibrant commerce of the era.
You’ll also see the magnificent baths, adorned with splendid mosaics, the fullonica, the public latrine, and the popina, where ancient citizens gathered for meals. The tour will culminate with a visit to the spectacular Theater, with its surprising Piazzale delle Corporazioni, and the Piazza del Foro, dominated by the grand Capitolium.
This itinerary will offer you a comprehensive overview of ancient Ostia, allowing you to take an authentic journey back in time to understand the customs and traditions of a city that, then as now, represented the beating heart of the Roman coastline.