| Leaving Rome and following the sea road, it takes about 30 minutes to reach Ostia, the Roman city of the Imperial Age, situated at the mouth of the Tiber river.
Ostia was founded around the 4th century BC by King Anco Marzio and became the harbor of Rome. Through the following centuries a flourishing trade and business center developed, until after the Barbarian invasions, when the port was abandoned and silted up heralding the decline of Ostia. The archaeological excavations undertaken at the beginning of the 14th century have brought the ancient city back to life.
During your walk through the ruins, your guide will enlighten you to the cultural and social life of this historical settlement. Your visit to Ostia Antica itself starts at Via delle Tombe which leads you to the 'Porta Romana', one of the city's three gates. This is the beginning of the Decumanus Maximus, the main thoroughfare that crosses the city from north east to south west.
You will then arrive at the Terme di Nettuno where you can admire the beautiful black and white mosaics representing Neptune and Amphitrite, the theatre built by Agrippa, and the Forum which formed the center of the city. Here you will discover the principle public buildings, Il Capitolium and the temple of Rome and Augustus, the Basilica and the large thermal baths.
Near the forum square you will also find the House of Diana and the Thermopolium, an ancient Roman bar with a marble counter and a fresco depicting the fruit and foodstuffs that were sold there. At the end of Via dei Dipinti, the Museo Ostiense displays some of the ancient sculptures.
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