Ostia, or as it is also called Ostia Antica, is a large archaeological complex, located near the modern suburb of Rome, Ostia. In ancient times, the city was the main haven of ancient Rome, and from the Latin "Ostia" literally translated as "estuary". Located at the mouth of the Tiber River, Ostia Antica has long been a port of Rome, but due to a drop in water level and silt, it now lies 3 km from the sea.
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A little bit of history
Ostia, supposedly the first Roman colony, was founded by King Ank Marcius in the 7th century BC. However, the oldest settlements, discovered during the excavations, date back only to the 4th century BC. e., and the most ancient - 3 century BC. e
How to get
The nearest airport is located near Rome in Fiumicino, which is 10 minutes drive from Ostia. From Fiumicino Airport, take the Leonardo Express train to Rome's main train station, Termini, where you can take the B underground line and follow the stop Piramide or Magliana. Then change to another subway train, going to the stop "Lido di Ostia". When exiting the metro, cross the blue footbridge and follow straight to the fountain, cross the road in front of the fountain and continue straight ahead to the entrance to the archaeological site.
Search for tickets to Rome (nearest Ostia airport)
On auto
Ostia Antica is located in a couple of minutes drive from the so-called Great Ring Road - "GRA", from where several main routes lead to the city: Via del Mare, Autostrada Roma Fiumicino, Via Cristoforo Colombo.
- Via del Mare
@ From the Great Ring Road, go to Via del Mare (exit No. 28) towards Ostia. Drive through Vitinia and Acilia, then continue to Ostia Antica
- Autostrada Roma Fiumicino (A91)
From the Great Circle Road, take the A91 motorway (exit No. 30) towards Ostia, cross the motorway A12, turn left towards Fiumicino Airport and head towards Ostia
- Via Cristoforo Colombo
From Via Grand Cristoforo Colombo (exit No. 27) towards Ostia, drive through areas of Acquilla and Casal-Palochko -Palocco) towards Ostia-Center
Entertainment, excursions and attractions of Ostia
Archaeological Museum The complex is open for visitors on a daily basis. Monday: 08: 30-16: 00 (January-February, November-December), 08: 30-17: 00 (March), 08: 30-18: 00 (April-October). The entrance fee is 6, 5 EUR (prices are indicated as of January 2012.)
Decumanus Maximus
The city gates and the city walls of Ostia Antique were built in the 1st century BC by the order of the famous speaker Mark Tullius Cicero, and completed by his sworn enemy Publius Claudius Pulcher. Just outside the gate is the main street of Ostia - Decumanus Maximus, paved with basalt blocks and a continuation of the road leading from Rome to Ostia
Behind the gate, on the left, is the square where the statue of the winged goddess Minerva was found. At present, the plaster cast of this statue, which originally adorned the city gates, rises on the square.
Neptune therms
To the right of Decumanus Maximus, behind a long row of shops there are the Neptune terms, the inscription on which says that these terms were built by Emperors Adrian (117 -138 н . э .) and Antonin Piem (138-161 н . э .) . The terms are famous for their black and white mosaic with the image of Neptune surrounded by dolphins, newts and Nereids, , harnessed by sea horses . The adjacent room is decorated with mosaic from the image the wife of Neptune, Amphitrite, the seahorse, accompanied by Hymen and Tritons . Next to the movement are the barracks, which were inhabited by about three hundred firefighters .
Theater and Capitolium
Theater built in the 1st century BC . e. Agrippa, Augustus' right hand, was expanded at the end of the 2nd century AD. e. during the reign of Commodus (176-192 AD) and Septimius Severus (193-211 AD) and could accommodate up to 4,000 spectators Right in front of the theater there is a small chapel erected in memory of those executed here in 269 year BC e. Christian martyrs.
Moving further along the Decumanus Maximus and turning to the right after 200 meters, on the left will be seen the walls, built of large tuff blocks - these are the remains of mills belonging to the oldest settlements dating from the beginning of the 3rd century BC. e. A little further, on the left side there is a beautiful view of the huge temple - the Capitol. Further down the street there is a small museum, a bookshop and a restaurant
Forum
The Forum, the main square of Ostia, is dominated by the Capitolium, a temple dedicated to the triad of Roman deities Jupiter, Juno and Minerva and built on Order of the Emperor Hadrian. Opposite the Capitol is another temple dedicated to Rome and Augustus
At the intersection of five streets there is a house of fish merchants, in the center of two rooms there is a marble table, and at the rear wall there is a fish basin lined with marble. The eastern room of the house is decorated with a black and white mosaic with marine motifs - newts and dolphins with caught octopuses.
Further it is necessary to adhere to the road leading to the north-west, to the right of which there are several temples, one of which is dedicated to Hercules. Behind the temple is a house built in the 4th century AD. e. and named after the sculptural composition of Cupid and Psyche, which stands in the center of one of the rooms of the building. Nearby are the thermae of Mithra near the house of Cupid and Psyche. Next to the terms is the house of the Guild responsible for the grain and consisting of three sections - one checking the grain that arrived at the port, the other - the grain that arrived at the warehouse, the third - the grain sent to Rome. In the center of the house of the Guild are the remains of a temple dedicated to Ceres, the patroness of the harvest and fertility. On the opposite side of the road there is a complex consisting of three parts: the House of Serapis, the Termes of the Seven Sages and the House of the Vozdichi.
The remnants of the synagogue were found not far from the ancient shoreline. Those wishing to visit it should go south towards the terms located at the sea gate
Forum's Term Terms
Returning to the Forum, one can find the terms of the Forum - one of the largest in Ostia Antica . The Terma could be get through room number 1, from which visitors passed to one of the four dressing rooms (№ 4, 5, 12 and 13) . In front of room number 4 in the baths there were several public latrines with 20 marble seats . Between the locker rooms was located The frigidarium, intended for cooling and surrounded by large m amorphous columns . The height of the frigidarium was supposed to reach 15-17 meters . Octagon room No. 15 was used for sunbathing - it was equipped with artificial heating and a huge window . Room No. 16 served as a thermae along the wall of which were placed marble seats . Rooms number 17-18 served as a tepidarium, intended for preheating the body, and room number 19 - Caldarium, where there were 3 pools with hot water . In these pools, a lot of hairpins were found, proving them that at that time women also used the baths . To the east of the Caldarium were the stoves, and to the south of the tepidarium was the palestra used for sports .
Not far from the thermal near one of the city gates there is a triangular field , at the far end of which is the temple of the goddess Cybele. Here is the temple of Attis, beloved Cybel. The gates of the temple are decorated with two half-columns with large marble bas-reliefs depicting Pan, the god of shepherds and fertility.
Before you leave Ostia, you can visit several graves located in front and to the right of the ticket office . One of the types of the tomb that are here there is a columbarium, which is a rectangular structure with wall niches in which urns were placed . Funerary chambers were often preceded by a small courtyard with urns also housed in the walls . Sometimes the columbarium was invaded th floor . The bodies were usually located in the arched niches of the walls of the funerary chamber, sometimes in sarcophagi from marble or terracotta, or in pits in the ground .
Pope's Castle Julia II
In a small settlement near Ostia Antica and near the Via del Mare road there is Pope Julius II Castle, built in 1483. Most of the building materials of the castle, consisting of bricks, was placed from the territory of Ostia Antica. The entrance to the castle is free and only accompanied by a guide in the group of up to 30 people. Excursions are conducted at 10:00 and 12:00, on Tuesdays and Thursdays there is an additional time to visit the castle - at 15:00.