If you can’t get enough of Ancient Roman ruins, this tour of Ostia Antica is right up your alley. The port town of Ancient Rome, this is where materials were delivered from ships all over the Empire and where the rich would spend their vacation time. This tour offers you a chance to wander the abandoned streets with fewer limitations than most of the archaeological sites in Italy.

Duration

4 hours

About

Ostia was ancient Rome’s principal port, built originally by the fourth king of Rome Ancus Marcius, who ruled in the late seventh century BC. Now found 30 km outside the city of Rome this site, often called Rome’s Pompeii, is a little off the beaten track, but it is still without a doubt one of Rome’s most stunning and overlooked sites. Walking through its empty streets, one gets a feeling that the ancient world is not really lost to us at all, merely temporarily forgotten.

The word Ostia comes from the Latin for mouth and while it originally stood on the coast, at the mouth of the Tiber River, Ostia Antica now stands about 5 km inland. Ostia started out as a thriving port City with cargo coming in from all over the Roman empire. Unfortunately, in the later Republic, the creation of a new port north of the area meant it turned into more of a holiday town full of hotels, brothels, bars and hundreds of villas all around. Nowadays, wandering through its ancient streets people can get a real feel of the life of luxury and opulence that these Romans would have lived in.

As we arrive at the entrance we will go straight inside where we will find a small, picturesque Necropolis, a graveyard for the rich and famous Romans who lived there. From here we will continue down the main road seeing every aspect of Roman life starting with the beautiful bath houses with their many mosaics still intact. From there it is on to the incredible Theatre, which housed 3000 people, and is still standing to this day. Next we will move on to see more ordinary ancient life, as you wind your way through shops, luxury villas and even some bathrooms you’ll start to form an idea of how the ancient Romans really went about their day to day lives. Throughout the tour you will see incredible statues, majestic temples, surprisingly complete mosaics and even some frescoes that have survived over the years. As always, we encourage you to ask your expert guide questions and for helpful tips regarding this tour as well as the rest of your visit to Rome.

What's included

• Entry to the each site included in the tour
• Your own exclusive professional local tour guide
• Headsets for groups when appropriate
• Transport to and from the tour

What's Excluded

• Some temporary exhibitions and special events may be excluded
• Food and Drink
• Gratuities

Know Before You Go

Please check-in at the meeting point 15 minutes prior to your scheduled tour time. Tours will depart promptly at the scheduled time, and no refunds will be given for late arrivals or missed tours.

Proof of identification may be required, so please bring a valid form of photo ID for each guest.

Tours will proceed in all weather conditions, unless the site is closed by authorities for safety reasons. It is highly recommended to bring bottled water, sunscreen, hat and umbrella.

All tours operate within the current COVID-19 regulations set by the Italian Government.

Wear comfortable walking shoes and be sure to dress warmly in colder temperatures, and bring a cover for bare shoulders inside any churches in the warmer months.