We are planning on a trip over the American Thanksgiving break in 2014. We plan on renting an apartment in Rome for 7/8 days and will spend one day in Ostia with our Roman history buff son, who will be 12, DD 9, and my mother 73. Any other day trips worth doing in that time frame with our group? We may end up just spending more time in Rome, but we had wondered about Pompeii, but we are second guessing that because of the Ostia trip. Anything else? Thanks!
Posted by
lexington, il
4105 posts
Orvieto is a quaint, Umbrian, hill town an hours train ride from Rome.
The kids may also get a kick out of the funiculare that takes you to the top of town.
Posted by
Scottsdale, AZ, USA
1127 posts
I agree that Orvieto is a wonderful day trip from Rome. The train ride about an hour in each direction but you feel like you are in the middle of the countryside. It's a great small town and the connections are easy.
Posted by
Marin, CA
532 posts
Ostia is a great place and you really can get up close with the ruins. I agree Orvieto is a wonderful choice and a break from the intensity of Rome (which we love) Have fun.
Posted by
Coraopolis, Pa, USA
1018 posts
Another vote for Orvieto. It is about a 75 minute train ride from Stazione Termini in Roma and an easy day trip. Another choice for a half day trip would be Ville Di Este, which is like a suburb of Roma. The site contains many fountains and Hadrian's Villa is nearby. Ostia Antica is just like Pompeii without the history. It does possess two amenities conspicuously absent from Pompeii: 1.) shade and 2.) a breeze blowing in from the sea. Buon viaggio,
Posted by
Seattle, WA, USA
7737 posts
Since he's a Roman history buff, I second the idea of Hadrian's Villa. Ostia is a nice alternative to Pompeii. It's not that it doesn't have "the history" - it does. It just doesn't have the dramatic story. Here are some pictures I took at Ostia in May 2008, but have to say we ran out of time due to a thunderstorm. There's more to see than is captured in my photos. And here are photos from our time at Hadrian's Villa in May 2008 that should give you something of an idea of what to expect. We had beautiful weather that day.
Posted by
Marin, CA
532 posts
I enjoy this site www.ostia-antica.org