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Ostia Antica,Italy

Are there any of Rick's Italy / Rome episodes that visit or highlight Ostia Antica?

Posted by
104 posts

There is a travel article about Ostia Antica you can find it here : http://www.ricksteves.com/watch-read-listen/read/articles/ostia-antica-near-rome . We also as a courtesy I have attached a description from our Rome guidebook :

For an exciting day trip, pop down to the Roman port of Ostia, which is similar to Pompeii but a lot closer and, in some ways, more interesting. Because Ostia was a working port town, it shows a more complete and gritty look at Roman life than wealthier Pompeii. Wandering around today, you’ll see warehouses, apartment flats, mansions, shopping arcades, and baths that served a once-thriving port of 60,000 people. With over 70 peaceful park-like acres to explore and relatively few crowds, it's a welcome break from the bustle of Rome.

If you want to see photos of Ostia Antica, just do a google search and click Images. Happy Travels!

Posted by
1054 posts

I loved Ostia Antica and being able to walk all over, up and down in the ruins unlike the Roman Forum area. It's a easy train ride outside of Rome and short walk to the location. Rick's Rome book has a whole section on the sights and walking route. I copied that section from my library last year using the copy machine at work since it wasn't in the Italy guidebook.

I'm not 100% sure on this but I thought Rick had an audio walking tour on his App for Ostia now?

Posted by
2252 posts

He does. It's a walking tour and listed on his Rick Steves Audio app under Italy (Venice, Florence, Rome). I have used it a couple of times and found it to be easy to follow and very informative.

Posted by
22 posts

We saw Ostia Antica as part of our week in Rome tour several years ago and found it to be absolutely fascinating. The scope of the site and the preservation of the buildings, mosaics and even some wall decorations is captivating. If you squint a little you can get a little sense of what life was like in that era.

There were few people there and we could wander through with our guide and enjoy learning about this incredible port town.
It's well worth the time to venture out of Rome to take in this site.
I believe Rick touches on Ostia in the episode titled "Rome-back-street-riches".

Posted by
14 posts

The RS audio-guide app for Ostia was great; used when we were there last month.
The latter part of this on-line RS show reviews Ostia: http://www.ricksteves.com/watch-read-listen/video/tv-show/rome-back-street-riches
It was a super easy day trip (1 metro ticket covers the metro/local train combo trip out to Ostia) and it was such a treat to be in the amphitheater and actually stand in the very intact tavern RS had raved about - have fun! Ciao` Diane

Posted by
1054 posts

That tavern was awesome to stand in and ponder back in time to being there filled with people.