Ok so we can’t know everything about everywhere but there are some places that should be higher up the ranks for tourists than they are.
Pompeii is a household name but what about the intriguing ancient harbour city just outside Rome?
Head west from the capital on the SS8 and you’ll be on your way to the Mediterranean and to the town of Ostia. The first thing you need to know is where the confusion sometimes lies in terms of the name Ostia. There is the new town of Ostia, which is also known as Lido di Ostia. This is not far from the larger town of Fiumicino, where the airport is.
Lido di Ostia
The town of Lido Ostia boomed during the middle of the first half of the 20th Century. Thanks to a new and improved railways and roadways, that brought Romans out of the city to the seaside, many people flocked to the beaches and waterfronts for their holidays. Art Nouveau buildings were erected, bathing pools were constructed and it became the place to be seen in the summer months. But sadly the latter half of the century led to poor water quality and then a dramatic decline in tourist numbers. Today the town is almost like a satellite orbiting the ever-expanding city of Rome. The distance between the two is now much less, as Rome gets bigger and bigger. Some fear it will one day be part of the city.
Ostia Antica
Men and women from the 20th Century weren’t the first people to head west from the great city. The ancient remains of the town of Ostia Antica now pay host to some of the country’s most impressive archaeological remains that pays host thousands of tourists into the area every year. But back in the reign of the like of Claudius it was a bustling seaside town and harbour with boats and with goods being brought in and out of the mighty Empire’s capital.
There is proof of remains from as far back as 4th century BC but it’s believed the area is much older. There are military camps, temples and vast banqueting halls. Over the years the site has been something of a target for pirates fresh off their boats and in 68 BC they sacked the town and it had to be built again.
The dizzy heights of the town came in the 2nd and 3rd Centuries AD. Population topped roughly 80,000 and the Emperors Maximan and Constantius Chlorus raised it to become one of the most fashionable and popular city retreats. There is the remains of a very impressive theatre, which dominates much of the site. There are baths, taverns and even a fire station.
If you fancy a visit to the site then get on any train heading that way from Rome – the Metro is only about 1 Euro. Admission is pretty cheap too and is usually around 5 Euros per person so it’s well worth it.
Popular Ostia Hotels on Venere.com:
- Ostia Antica Park Hotel – 3-star Hotel – Double Room from €79
- Il Giardino Pensile – Bed & Breakfast – Double Room from €75
- Residence Rodrigo de Vivar – Farm House – Double Room from €100
Photo of mosaics in Ostia Antica, Rome, by Dane Larsen
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