Come and discover all the wonders of Ostia Antica, equip yourself with a bicycle and spend a day outdoors.
Ostia Antica is one of the districts of Rome. It is said that this was the first place to be settled by the Romans and therefore all the historical finds that are constantly being unearthed in this area are among the oldest. The beauty of Ostia Antica is the possibility to breathe art in the open air.
The ideal time to visit is definitely the spring and summer period, so that we can enjoy a day of just discovering our ancestors.
Our advice is to do so by using a bicycle that allows you to move quickly from one historical site to another. And if you have time to spare, you can also visit Ostia city.
What to see in Ostia Antica
When you hear people talk about Ostia Antica they often refer to the archaeological and historical sites in this area of Rome.
Here we have the opportunity to discover some of the most important finds that have survived to the present day. The great characteristic of these finds is that some of them present the exact composition with which they were made.
If you decide to visit this area, there are three things that you absolutely must not miss, let’s see which ones: The Castle of Ostia Antica, also known as the Fortress of Ostia or the Castle of Julius II.
It was Pope Julius II who commissioned the construction of this castle in 1483. This building is a perfect example of military architecture from the Italian Renaissance period. The building has had several different functions over time, first as the residence of Pope Julius II when he was still a cardinal, then as a military fortress and finally as a prison for prisoners who were destined for forced labour.
It was eventually abandoned to the present day. You can visit the castle by entering from Via dei Romagnoli and arriving at the hamlet, which is located at Piazza della Rocca 13.
The fortress can only be visited on Saturdays and Sundays from 10:00 to 16:00 with free access. The Archaeological Park of Ostia Antica is one of the largest and most famous in Italy. Here we can find the remains of ancient Rome, the town and the village clearly recognisable.
This area was the centre of Roman life until the leadership of Emperor Augustus, after which it slowly emptied out because life, due to the river no longer being navigable, had become unsustainable and so the Romans of the time began to move to other parts of the city.
The Roman Theatre was commissioned by Emperor Augustus and could hold up to 4000 people. Parties, events and shows were organised here to entertain the citizens.
Later changes were made by Ragonio Vincenzio Celso, around the 4th century, who wanted to be able to hold water shows in the theatre. Further information The Archaeological Park and the Roman Theatre can be visited every day, except Mondays, from 8:30 am.
Closing times vary depending on which month you choose to visit the park. Entrance is free on Sundays throughout 2020, while for the rest of the days it is 12 euros per person. Some sites within the park can only be visited by appointment.
This is why we recommend that you visit the site before going to Ostia Antica https://www.ostiaantica.beniculturali.it/it/home/ .
A short walk from here is Ostia Città, which can be reached in 10 minutes by bicycle. Here, in addition to the sea, you can visit the Pontile, the port and the Borgo dei Pescatori.
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