The city of Rome is surrounded by ancient architectural masterpieces, starting with its main monuments like the Colosseum or the Pantheon, and ending with its aqueducts and ruins but it doesn’t end here!
If you’re in Rome and are looking for ways to connect to the city’s majestic ancient side, we highly suggest you visit Ostia Antica. It’s just a 30-minute train ride from Rome and it’s one of the most important ports of Ancient Rome. Ostia Antica is nowadays filled with relics and ruins that were wonderfully preserved that you can visit.
Here’s a list of the things you can’t miss out on seeing in Ostia Antica!
The Thermopolium: ancient Roman fast food delights
Considered to be one of the most common eating establishments in ancient Rome, the thermopolium was almost like a fast food chain, where you could order and get your food at a window. You could easily choose what to get from a painted menu located on the counter and, amongst endless food options, you could also get some cheap wine. Because of this, the thermopolium was one of the most beloved places by boozers. Here’s a list of some of
the most popular food options at the thermopolium:
- Flamingo’s tongue;
- Boar stuffed with mockingbirds;
- Grilled Dormouse;
Which one would you like to try?
The Theater: a glimpse into Ostia Antica’s entertainment scene
One of the most important buildings in Ostia Antica has to be the theater. It was built during Augustus’ Empire and its structure could house over 4000 people at the same time. This theater was luckily very well preserved and because of this we can admire its decorated background (typical of Ancient Roman Theaters) and it’s easy to imagine this place packed with people going to see a show.
The Capitolium: exploring the grand Temple in Ostia’s Forum
Much like the Roman Forum, Ostia had its own Forum and one of the most important buildings that was preserved from the Ostia Forum is the Capitolium. The Capitolium is a big temple, built in honor of the gods Jupiter, Juno and Minerva, commonly known as the Capitoline triad, hence the name. The Capitolium was apparently built in 120 AD and it used to have 6 marble columns at the top of the staircase we see today.
The Temple of Fabri Navales: hidden marvels of Ostia Antica’s maritime past
The Temple of Fabri Navales is one of the most overlooked sites in Ostia Antica. It used to be the city’s ship carpenters guild, which was very popular and important for Rome’s main port. The Temple was apparently used as a storage site for marble from the IV century AD. Because of this, walking through the ruins of the Temple of Fabri Navales, you will be able to find circa 40 unused marble columns. These columns were probably destined for other buildings that never saw the light of day.
Conclusion
Visiting Ostia Antica will definitely make for a great adventurous experience, where you and your family will be able to fully immerse yourselves in what it was like to be an ancient Roman. If you want to get to know more about the city of Rome, check out our other blogs and book a tour with us for the best experience possible!
