Time traveler
The past is always fascinating. The archaeological site of Ostia Antica is well preserved and allows you to conjure up life as it was in this Roman town. Almost 2000 years ago it was a busy seaport, a thriving commercial centre of 60,000 people. Today, it is an archaeological site giving you a glimpse of life as it was all those centuries ago.
Ostia Antica, lies 25km south west of Rome, Italy. It was a town built on the mouth of the River Tiber, hence the name, and was a bustling port town. Until the Tiber silted up and changed course bringing this town to a standstill.
Ostia was founded around 620 B.C. and the main commodity at that time was the salt gleaned from the salt flats. Later, around 400 B.C. Rome conquered Ostia and made it a naval base, complete with a fort. By 150 A.D. Rome controlled all the Mediterranean, and Ostia served as a commercial port.
The ancient buildings, magnificent frescoes and mosaics give you an idea of life in the early days. Stroll through the ruins and discover houses, shops, market places, trading centres and more. The city is built on a grid, just like all Roman military towns. It has a rectangular fort with gates in four directions — north, south, east,west and two main roads that meet up at the Forum.
It houses one of the oldest brick theatres or teatro in the world. It is used for concerts even today. Other sites to look out for are the Forum Baths, an inn called Insula of the Thermopolium, and the House of Diana, which was a tenement complex where the poorer people lived.
Scroll through these slides to explore the archaeological site.