Ancient Ostia Private Day Tour from Rome

Nowadays, Ostia Antica is a large archaeological site. Located just 19 miles (30 km) west of Rome and on the River Tiber. During ancient Rome it was one of the most thriving cities in the region thanks to its status as Rome’s harbour city. After the collapse of the Empire, the city fell into decadence, was eventually abandoned and remained untouched and magnificently preserved for centuries. Ostia Antica became Rome’s main seaport during the Roman Republic (509 BC – 27 BC) and the city was largely improved by Julius Caesar and Tiberus, during part of the Roman Empire. Nevertheless, the Romans slowly began to depend on other ports, meaning that the commercial activity in Ostia slowed down until it fell into decay during the fourth century AD. During the same period, the inhabitants of Ostia were hit by malaria and many fled to save their lives. This is how a city which had once a population of 100,000, was abandoned and turned into a forgotten port during several centuries.The city is relatively well preserved, but not as well as Pompeii or Herculaneum, where the cities were completely buried under volcanic ash and mud. The archaeological site still houses the remains of most of the city’s buildings before it was abandoned. Ostia’s main arterial street, called Decumanus Maximus in Roman cities, cuts through the whole city, while the arcades on both sides of the street show the houses and shops which once thrived here. There are also taverns, inns, shops, public baths and a large reconstructed theatre, which is still used during the summer. The harbour city had a very cosmopolitan population, visible thanks to a Jewish synagogue, a Christian Basilica and the 18 temples dedicated to the Persian god Mithra.