Ostia Antica – A Great Side Trip From Rome

by | Dec 12, 2020 | Articles

When in Rome, and you have an afternoon free, take an exciting day trip to the Roman port of Ostia Antica. The ancient town was an important and thriving center of trade. There were baths, warehouses, a theater, apartments, and shopping arcades.

 

Ostia Antica road
A stone road through the port town of Ostia Antica. The red brick building on the right is the entrance to the large theater.
A well on the Ostia Antica Decumanus.
A well on the Decumanus, a road leading into the town of Ostia Antica.
Ostia Antica theater entrance
Steps leading up to the top portion of the theater at Ostia Antica. Some of the brick portions of the building have fallen over the years.
The theater at Ostia Antica
The theater is designed to hold several thousand people. The half-round design allows for a front stage with carved faces.
Ostia Antica theater design
This is the layout of the theater. Many people could attend events and plays. The acoustics are quite good and the stage can be seen by the audience. An impressive structure to be sure!
Ostia Antica side view of theater
A side view of the theater providing a better perspective. The theater was smaller than many of the Roman theaters we’ve seen over the years. But it was very well done and survived a long period of abandonment until Ostia Antica was brought back to life.
A road leading to Ostia Antica
When walking to Ostia Antica, you will be walking on this type of stone road. Be sure to wear comfortable shoes!
Capitolium temple at Ostia Antica
Emperor Hadrian built the largest temple in Ostia Antica dedicated to Jupiter, Juno, and Minerva. The original building had six Corinthian columns in front and was covered in marble.
Ostia Antica warehouses
Merchants in Ostia Antica needed warehouses to store the goods and materials that flowed into Rome. These buildings are constructed of brick. Many other buildings in Italy were built with brick. The Colosseum in Rome used brick in its construction.
Warehouse building
Another view of a large storage building. The port of Ostia Antica was very busy. People living there thrived for many years until the port silted up and the Roman seat of government moved to Constantinople in 330 AD.
Ostia buildings
Additional buildings to see while making your way through the old port town of Ostia Antica.

A visit to Ostia Antica is well worth a day trip. You can expect a lot of walking, but the sights are spectacular and there is so much to experience. If you take the Metro and the train to get there, you will also be rewarded with a chance to see a real pyramid. Take a few minutes and walk over to it on your way back to Rome.

What To See & Do:

Directions to Ostia Antica From Rome: Buy a Meteo ticket (about 1 Euro). The Metro ticket is good for the whole journey one way. Take the Metro Line B from Rome to the Pyramide stop. Change to the train, which is a very short distance away (have your Metro ticket with you). Follow signs to Lido. Trains depart every 15 minutes. Ride the train to the Ostia Antica stop (about 30 minutes). Leave the train station in Ostia Antica and look for the blue sky-bridge across the road.

Walk straight along Via della Stazione di Ostia Antica until you reach the parking lot. The entrance is to the left.

Where To Stay:

Check VRBO for apartment and vacation rentals. CLICK HERE to view available apartments and rental rates in Ostia Antica, Italy.

Steven Ward founded 10 Minute Travel in 2006. He wanted to create a website that would focus on interesting sights and attractions. The website has seen several changes over the years. Steve is a retired Coast Guard Officer who has worked in the IT field after leaving the service. He has been all over Alaska on ships, sailed through the Panama Canal, stopped in Jamaica and Aruba, and gone on a handful of trips to Europe and Asia. Taiwan, Japan, and Thailand were some of the more recent trips overseas. If there is a vaccine for the travel bug, he will refuse it.  🙂

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