We are traveling to Rome with my 82-year-old mom who is in very good shape (she did three weeks in Israel last year). We can take a motorbus tour to Pompeii but it will take an entire day. Others have suggested we go to Ostica instead but no tour. Does anyone have any comments on either place? Any input would be appreciated greatly!
Posted by
Tresana, Highlands Ranch, CO, USA
23267 posts
Other than similar old abandon Rome towns there is not much in common. Ostica A is old river port that was slowly buried in mud as the river flooded and changed channels. But the restoration is good and it is in a park with lots of shade trees. Something that Pompeii has none of. Ostica A is small and much easier to see. You will see similar type of a town layout, style of buildings, etc., and in that way it is similar to Pompeii. Pompeii's fame and appeal is more related to it end fate. The recovered artifacts are in the museum in Naples so Pompeii is mostly shells of buildings.
Posted by
OP
2 posts
Thanks, Frank. That is just what I needed to hear!
Posted by
franktown, colorado
2252 posts
There is a Rick Steves audio Europe app available for free download. It has an enjoyable and comprehensive audio walking tour of Ostia Antica that I have used. There's also one for Pompeii but we had a guided tour for that visit. Personally, I preferred our visit to OA and agree with Frank's assessment of the two sites. It's an easy 30 minute train ride to Ostia from Rome.
Posted by
Tampa, FL, USA
1054 posts
I also like Ostia better. You can walk in the ruins and up floors of buildings and not behind ropes. Rick has a good audio app and a section in his Rome guidebook.
Also that will only take half your day, that you could do say Aquaduct Park and or the Appian way to in the afternoon.
Posted by
Munich, Germany
6 posts
Well, all I can tell you is that Pompeii is absolutely worth a visit. It's a fascinating and also shocking place unlike anything I had seen before.
Posted by
Seattle, WA, USA
7737 posts
There's an excellent thread on this exact topic on TripAdvisor: http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g187791-i22-k7786672-o10-Ostia_Antica_and_Pompeii-Rome_Lazio.html
Posted by
Centennial, CO, USA
1883 posts
I've done both places. It's a bit tiring at Pompeii, not a lot of places to sit down, and you can't eat on the grounds. I did Ostia with my daughter back in 2006 and found it to be delightful. Years ago was probably before the readers here discovered it, so it could be more crowded now.
it's a simple Metro ride (with one transfer ) to get to Ostia. I can recommend you bring a small picnic lunch and make a nice 1/2 day of it. it's so easy to walk around the ruins, and the stone floors that remain are amazing. Lots of bath tubs and statues scattered around. The theater is very fun to see, as is Diana's "bar".
If you want to eat there, and not bring your own food, there is a cafeteria on the grounds as well...and a small gift shop. I like to buy the books that explain what I've seen to bring home as a souvenir.
Pompeii will be a full day for sure, it's further from Rome...Ostia would be just as good with your 82 year old mom!
Posted by
Seattle, WA, USA
7737 posts
And just so you don't get into the habit of saying the name wrong, it's Ostia Antica, often shortened to just Ostia. Not Ostica (although that does mash the two words together nicely).
Posted by
roswell, ga, usa
1501 posts
Michael, I almost made the same correction, but didn't want to be 'pedantic.' I just never know when to correct or not correct,
LOL!
Posted by
Seattle, WA, USA
7737 posts
I know what you mean, Donna. It's only because I saw it being repeated that I felt compelled to mention it. (^_^)