Discover one of the most well preserved archaeological sites of the Roman times. Join us on an enlightening journey to Ostia Antica, the ancient port city that was once Rome's gateway to the Mediterranean. Founded around 620 BC by King Ancus Marcius, Ostia served as a vital commercial hub, located strategically at the Tiber River's mouth. Its evolution from a military outpost, safeguarding the salt pans and coast, to Rome's primary river port, underscores its significance in ancient commerce and daily life.
Discover the remnants of Ostia's earliest fortifications, dating back to the 4th century BC, and wander through the bustling streets that once thrived as Rome asserted dominance over the Mediterranean. Marvel at the architectural wonders of the Republican era, including the grand city gates and expansive necropolises that outline the ancient city's boundaries.
As we delve into the 2nd century AD, witness the zenith of Ostia's prosperity, housing up to 50,000 inhabitants and showcasing an array of economic activities supported by the Imperial Ports of Claudius and Trajan. Explore the Forum, lavish baths, granaries, and the Capitolium, reflecting the city's architectural and cultural splendor. However, the narrative takes a poignant turn by the mid-3rd century AD, with Ostia's decline mirrored by the shift of commercial activities to Portus. By the mid-6th century AD, literary sources depict Ostia as abandoned, a stark contrast to its former glory.
In the ancient city of Ostia, visitors have the unique opportunity to explore remarkably preserved buildings that stand 2-3 stories tall, despite being constructed almost 2,000 years ago. Among these enduring structures, the Roman theatre emerges as a highlight, captivating not only for its historical significance but also for its modern-day vibrancy. This stunning edifice continues to serve as a venue for concerts and events, bridging the ancient world with contemporary culture. It stands as a testament to the architectural ingenuity and cultural importance of Ostia, offering a vivid glimpse into the past while remaining a part of the living, breathing present.
This tour offers a comprehensive view of Ostia Antica's rich history, from its strategic beginnings to its peak and eventual decline, inviting you to step back in time and experience the life of an ancient Roman port city.
Tour itinerary
Porta Laurentina
The gate in the Republican walls, built in around the mid-1st century BC, marks the entrance into the city from the Via Laurentina, an ancient road leading from Laurentum (a town in Lazio south of Rome); the stretch of road inside the city was Ostia’s Cardo Maximus.
The Via Laurentina Necropolis
The most ancient tombs, dating from the mid-1st century BC onwards, were built in an area some distance from the city. Though the owners of the tombs were not of high social status, the presence of refined painted decorations shows the level of wealth attained by Ostian freedmen through commercial and productive activities.
Campo della Magna Mater
Numerous cult buildings: the temple of Cybele or Magna Mater (a fertility goddess) (A), the shrine of Attis (a mythical shepherd and lover of Cybele) (C), the temple of Bellona (the Italic goddess of war) (D) and the headquarters of the Hastiferi or lance-bearers (E), who performed religious dances during the ceremonies.
Complesso delle Terme del Filosofo
In the early 2nd century AD, the complex consisted of a series of shops with an open space behind them in which a small temple (A) dedicated to an unknown god was built in around AD 200.
Quattro Tempietti
The complex, probably built in around the mid-1st century BC, consists of four buildings These are the temples of Venus, Fortuna, Ceres and Spes (Hope)
Theatre
The theatre, one of the most ancient to be made of brick, was built in the last years of the 1st century BC.
Terme di Nettuno
Connected to the Decumanus by an arcaded portico that monumentalized this side of the street, the baths date to the late 1st century AD but were rebuilt by the emperor Hadrian (AD 117-138) and completed in AD 139 by the emperor Antoninus Pius