About the Ostia Antica Walk in Rome
After the fall of Rome, Ostia Antica, the city's port on the Mediterranean, was buried by centuries of river mud. As a result, like Pompeii much farther south, it is today one of the best examples of an ancient Roman town in all of Italy, with most of its buildings intact, fantastic mosaics, and the oldest synagogue in Europe.
Our excursion to Ostia begins in Rome with a short train ride toward the coast. (Participants booking a private tour have the option to request a car service instead, though with traffic this can sometimes take longer.) Along the way, our docent--an archaeologist or classical historian--will discuss the regional geography of the area, Ostia's role as Rome's port, and the historic background leading up to the town's rise in the Imperial era. On site, we will spend four hours combing through the ruins, which include some of the best examples of baths, a fantastic amphitheater, and several Mithraic temples, not to mention a forum with temples.
The highlight and fo
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After the fall of Rome, Ostia Antica, the city's port on the Mediterranean, was buried by centuries of river mud. As a result, like Pompeii much farther south, it is today one of the best examples of an ancient Roman town in all of Italy, with most of its buildings intact, fantastic mosaics, and the oldest synagogue in Europe.
Our excursion to Ostia begins in Rome with a short train ride toward the coast. (Participants booking a private tour have the option to request a car service instead, though with traffic this can sometimes take longer.) Along the way, our docent--an archaeologist or classical historian--will discuss the regional geography of the area, Ostia's role as Rome's port, and the historic background leading up to the town's rise in the Imperial era. On site, we will spend four hours combing through the ruins, which include some of the best examples of baths, a fantastic amphitheater, and several Mithraic temples, not to mention a forum with temples.
The highlight and focus of our visit will be the daily life of regular, working class Romans, so well illustrated by Ostia. We'll spend time in the market area with its wonderful mosaics discussing the economy of the empire and the materials and commodities that made their way through here every day. We will also spend time in the insulae (apartment houses) that characterize Ostia and even visit an ancient bakery and fast-food restaurant. (That's right.)
Participants are free to linger on site (where there is also a modern restaurant) or return to Rome with our docent. Either way, you'll have round trip tickets. Note: The synagogue in Ostia is located at the far end of town. On private walks, it is possible to shape the walk so that we include it–though this should be made clear at the beginning of the walk. It is usually not included on the small-group walk.
Why would I visit Ostia Antica instead of Pompeii? There are two reasons many of our clients in Rome choose to visit Ostia over Pompeii. The first is that it's much closer and easier to visit. While it takes up to three hours to get to Pompeii from Rome, Ostia is a quick 25-minute train ride. The second reason is that many scholars feel that Ostia is a better example of a real, working class town than Pompeii. We add a third reason. Visiting Ostia has a lower carbon footprint than visiting Pompeii, and given the crowds at the latter and general "undiscovered" feeling of the former, it's a more enjoyable, enriching experience. This is why the Context Foundation for Sustainable Travel funds a study project in Ostia as a way of drawing attention to the site.
