| Just 15 miles southwest of Rome, a stone's throw | | | | Roman Culture. |
| from the clear blue waters of the Tyrrenhian sea, | | | | "An excursion to Ostia presents a remarkably full view |
| slumbers one of the best-preserved of ancient Roman | | | | of the development and identity of the ancient Roman |
| towns. | | | | city, both historically and architecturally. Coming to Ostia |
| Though on par with Herculanum and Pompeii in terms | | | | Antica is like seeing a great work of art," emphasizes |
| of archeological significance, Ostia Antica is often | | | | Dr. Arya, "like the Sistine Chapel, where you can just |
| overlooked by foreign tourists. | | | | keep going back again and again and again. There's |
| Serenity prevails in this splendid archeological jewel. Full | | | | just so much of interest here." |
| of Pine trees, overgrown with grass, this peaceful | | | | ADMISSION |
| haven seems worlds away from the frantic | | | | Gates open Tuesday through Sunday around 9am |
| day-to-day life of downtown Rome. | | | | and close about one hour before sunset. The site is |
| MY FIRST VISIT | | | | closed on Monday. Admission runs about $5 for the |
| On my first visit to Ostia Antica in the early 70s with a | | | | site and museum. Allow yourself a relaxing 2-3 hours in |
| group of Mormon missionaries, we soon tired of | | | | this charming site. |
| observing the ruins and opted to channel our | | | | Via dei Romagnoli 717, Ostia Antica, Italy. PHONE: 06 |
| adolescent energy into an old-fashioned game of | | | | 56358099. The Website offers information in Italian |
| hide-and-seek, for which the Ostian ruins were ideally | | | | only: |
| suited. | | | | WHERE TO EAT |
| I've been back to Ostia Antica several times and each | | | | In a side street in the small medieval village near the |
| time have enjoyed the experience more. It's a | | | | excavations you will find Cipriani, described by its fans |
| peaceful place where you can wander freely and | | | | as an "atmospheric trattoria, with wooden beamed |
| ponder what life was like in ancient Rome. | | | | ceilings and frescoed walls, specializing in typical |
| HISTORY | | | | Roman cuisine." Via del Forno 11, Ostia Antica, Italy. |
| Ostia was founded in 623 B.C. where the Tiber pored | | | | PHONE: 06/56359560. AE, DC, MC, V. Closed Wed. Its |
| into the sea as one of the first colonies of ancient | | | | website offers information in Italian and in English: |
| Rome by Ancius Marcius (Anco Marzio), the fourth | | | | HOW TO GET TO OSTIA ANTICA |
| king of Rome. In ancient times the Etruscans, called | | | | By Boat: Two boat companies operate regular |
| "Tyrrhennians" by the Greeks, settled on Italy's | | | | services to Ostia Antica. Both leave from Ponte |
| western coast north of modern Rome in the area | | | | Marconi (Marconi Bridge) in Rome. The trip down the |
| known today as Tuscany. | | | | Tiber takes 2 hours and 15 minutes. |
| Thus, the Mediterranean that washes Italy's western | | | | 1) Battelli di Roma (PHONE: 06/6789361, Departures: |
| shores came to be known as the "Sea of the | | | | Friday, Saturday, Sunday at 9:15, return trip from Ostia |
| Tyrrhennians." | | | | Antica: 1:30. Tickets: EUR10. |
| With its prime location at the mouth of the Tiber, Ostia | | | | 2) Battelli "Invincibili 1" and "Love Boat" (PHONE: 06 |
| Antica developed into the port for Rome. Goods | | | | 56304094, Daily departures at 10 AM. Tickets: EUR12 |
| brought in by ship were unloaded here and either | | | | (reservations are essential). |
| stored in warehouses or loaded into smaller ships for | | | | By Car: Follow Via del Mare southwest, which leads |
| the trip upriver to Rome. | | | | directly from Rome to Ostia (a 30- to 40-minute trip). |
| Many stores sprang up and Ostia became popular | | | | It's best to avoid weekends in summer when Romans |
| among Romans as a place to shop. Wealthy | | | | head for the beach and traffic can be heavy. |
| merchants and tradesmen built lavish homes along | | | | By Train: Regular train service links the Ostia Antica |
| Ostia's broad streets. In its heyday Ostia was home to | | | | station with Rome's Piramide Metro line B station, near |
| some 60,000 inhabitants. | | | | Porta San Paolo. Exit the Metro and go to the |
| Ostian ruins include a large Jewish synagogue and the | | | | adjacent station called Ostia Lido. The ride takes about |
| the remains of temples dedicated to the Persian god | | | | 35 minutes. Trains depart every half hour throughout |
| Itra, and the Egyptian god Iside. These diverse cultural | | | | the day. |
| relics provide evidence of the very heterogenous | | | | EXPLORE A CASTLE NEARBY |
| makeup of the city. | | | | Before or after exploring Ostia Antica's ruins, take a |
| After the fall of Rome, malaria spreading mosquitos | | | | few minutes to stroll around the quaint medieval village |
| infested the wetlands nearby. Ostia was abandoned | | | | and visit the Castello della Rovere. |
| and eventually buried beneath mud and sand as the | | | | This castle, which is easily spotted as you come off |
| Tiber shifted its course. | | | | the footbridge from the train station, was built by Pope |
| BEST INSIGHT INTO ANCIENT ROME | | | | Julius II when he was the cardinal bishop of Ostia in |
| "You can gain more insight into the city of Rome from | | | | 1483. |
| Ostia than you can from Pompeii." says Dr Darius | | | | Inside are badly faded frescoes, believed to be by |
| Arya, executive director of the American Institute for | | | | Michelangelo's pupil Baldassare Peruzzi. |