Hello - we are heading to Italy in late April. We are leaving out of Rome and are trying to decide between going to Pompeii or Ostia Antica. Per RS, it seems like Ostia Antica is a good substitute and is much closer to Rome - leaving more time to see other sights and not spend a whole day going to Pompeii? Any opinions - is it a good substitute - is there anything we are missing not taking the trip to Pompeii.
Take care - Tami
We've been to Pompeii twice and it is amazing. In May 2008 we finally visited Ostia and loved it. It is not nearly as developed or grand but we really enjoyed wandering through the ruins and getting much closer up. While Pompeii is more of a stone and arid setting Ostia is set in grass and in May poppies. As it is more in ruins you have to use your imagination more and definitely get a good map. But even when we were lost and trying to figure out what parts of what building we were seeing it was a more magical visit for us than Pompeii. Try www.ostia-antica.org. It only takes an hour and about $2 to get to. I personally wouldn't want to make Pompeii a daytrip from Rome.
I don't think you can compare the two...Pompeii is really not such a bad day trip - if you have more than three days in Rome I would highly recommend fitting it in.
Thanks everyone - very helpful. Thanks for the links - I'll read those and will make a much better decision. We want to do it all - but, realistically, we just can't. Means we have a reason to go back!
Tami
