Ostia Antica — The Second Pompeii
Ostia Antica was Rome's ancient port and a thriving commercial city with over 50,000 inhabitants. Unlike the tourist-overrun Pompeii, Ostia Antica is a hidden gem: excellently preserved, expansive, only 30 minutes from Rome — and a fraction of the visitor numbers. Here you can wander through ancient streets, sit in a Roman theater, admire mosaics in old taverns, and understand the everyday life of ancient Rome better than anywhere else.
Highlights
- Theater: The ancient theater (1st century BC, expanded under Septimius Severus) held 4,000 spectators and is still used for performances in the summer. The acoustics are excellent.
- Piazzale delle Corporazioni: The "Square of the Corporations" — a commercial area with mosaics depicting the trades of resident merchants: ships, elephants (ivory trade), dolphins (fish trade). An ancient business directory in mosaic.
- Thermopolium: An ancient snack bar with a mosaic menu — wine, olives, bread. The McDonald's of ancient Rome.
- Forum and Capitol: The center of the city with the main temple and the Curia (town hall).
- Insulae: Ancient apartment buildings (up to 5 stories high) — a unique insight into the living conditions of ordinary Romans.
- Terme di Nettuno: Baths with a spectacular black-and-white mosaic of the sea god Neptune.
Practical Information
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Admission | 12€, free on the 1st Sunday of the month |
| Opening Hours | Tue–Sun 8:30–19:15 (summer), shorter in winter |
| Getting There | Roma-Lido train from Piramide (Metro B): 30 min., regular metro ticket. Stop: Ostia Antica |
| Duration | 2–4 hours (the site is large) |
