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The Suburb of Rome: Recommended Itineraries   

Ancient Ostia & Portus

Ostia was the port of Ancient Rome. Being the main sea-port of the Roman Empire, Ancient Ostia followed step-by-step the History of Rome, its birth, rising and decandence. It's the only archaeological site nearby Rome where people may really appreciate how about the real old Roman lifestyle was coupled nowadays with their beautiful ruins.

Despite its enormous extension (70 hectares - 173 acres), Ancient Ostia is very much preserved, much better than Rome, due to different floodings of the Tiber River. "Ostia", in Latin, means "mouth"  in English.

OSTIA : Archaeologists Unveil Majestic Roman Ruins That Rival Riches of Pompeii

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Ancient Ostia

Tourist Guide

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Ostia and Portus were more than ancient Rome ports, safe harbours and quays, other than complete towns. Many goods & items - food, wine, olive oil, wheat - were stored in the warehouses in the harbour cities and transported to Rome along the Tiber in tow-boats, pulled by oxen, or by using the two of the famous Roman roads: Via Ostiense on the left and Via Portuense on the right side of the Tiber River - still used every day -. With Caesar Augustus, several guilds became increasingly important. These were associations of craftsmen and merchants, other than fire fighters (Vigiles).

We will walk by Frescoes, amazing Mosaics, public and private Baths (SPA), Ancient Temples, Warehouses, old Shops, Condominiums ( Insulae ), Houses (Domus) and, of course, the Capitol.

In our opinion, Ostia Antica is second only to the Scavi of Pompeii & Herculaneum. Please see the 3D reconstruction at this link: http://www.ostia-antica.org.

Portus became the port city of old Rome and it was more important than Ostia once two Roman Emperors, Claudius (41-54 A.D.) and Trajan (98-117 A.D. ) built their harbour bassins on the right side of the Tiber River (Ostia is on the left one).

Most of the old City of Portus has been levelled in place of the Rome Fiumicino Airport: however, it can be visited only the first Saturday and the last Sunday of each month. Instead, the great archaelogical remains can be visited in its necropolis, which is always open.

Its magnificent status of preservation will amaze you whenever we will walk through its frescos, mosaics, stuccos. It is part of the undiscovered outskirts of Rome and nobody goes there. So far, it will be more than beautiful to have a quick tour after the visit Ancient Ostia, as it is located only 4 km (2,5 miles) away.

For info and bookings. RomeTravels@Gmail.com

Half day guided Tour (4 hours) with English speaking guide and private transportation:

• 1-2 pax: 550,00 EUR
  

• 3-7 pax: 700,00 EUR
  

• 8-17 pax: 75,00 EUR p.p.
  

• 18-40 pax: 50,00 EUR p.p.
  

Notes: 1. Entrance fees not included
2. 21 % vat tax on the deposit to be added

OSTIA: Useful Web Article:

RESTORATION – OSTIA ANTICA: Doors open to the “garden houses” at Ostia Antica
After a major and lengthy restoration, the House of Lucceia Primitiva and the decorative elements of the “Garden Houses” at Ostia have been reopened to the public as part of European Heritage Days. These sorts of houses, or insulae – four in all - , are extremely important evidence of building in the Hadrian age....read more