Ostia Antica is a well-preserved ancient Roman city near Rome. It was a military installation and important port city, with surviving structures dating from the 3rd century BC. It was sacked by pirates and abandoned in the 9th century AD. Visitors can see intact buildings and fixtures, including an amphitheater and mosaic floors. Guides are available to provide context and answer questions.
Ostia Antica is a remarkably well-preserved ancient Roman city not far from the outskirts of modern Rome. Many people enjoy visiting Ostia Antica on a trip to Italy, as it is an interesting place, and some liken it to Pompeii, another abandoned Roman city that also provides intriguing fodder for visitors. Those who want to visit Ostia Antica can do so with relative ease, using public transport or private tours to reach the site; it’s a good idea to devote a day to wandering around Ostia, as there is so much to see.
Today’s Ostia is located in the center of a meadow, but when the area was first settled it was at the mouth of the River Tiber. The river has since moved out to sea, due to silting and other natural changes in the environment. Archaeological evidence suggests humans have lived at the site since about 1,500 BC, and possibly earlier, and according to legend, the Roman city on the site was founded in 700 BC by Ancus Marcius, the fourth king of Rome. Many of the oldest surviving structures in Ostia Antica date from around the 3rd century BC, suggesting that the city may not be as ancient as it is rumored.
The Romans originally built a city on the site as a military installation, to protect Rome from invaders. However, it soon became an important port city in its own right, with a large portion of Rome’s goods passing through Ostia at some point. This is one of the things that makes Ostia Antica such an interesting site to visit, as people can see what a functioning port city would have looked like in the Roman Empire.
Ostia Antica was sacked by pirates multiple times in its history and overrun by a huge assortment of others. Around the 9th century AD, the city was abandoned and has stood largely alone ever since, except during the Middle Ages, when part of the city was pillaged for building material. Despite this, many of Ostia’s buildings and fixtures are intact for people to admire today, from an amphitheater for performances to beautiful mosaic floors.
Several guides include sections on Ostia Antica, and there are also books dedicated especially to the city and its monuments. It can be helpful to bring along a knowledgeable guide or guide on your visit, to put places into context and answer questions as they arise.
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