Ostia Antica

About this place

Ostia Antica is the modern name given to the ancient Roman city of Ostia. It became the port city of Rome located at the mouth of the Tiber and is near modern Ostia, 25 km southwest of Rome. Due to silting of the coastline from the river, the site now lies 3 km from the sea. The name Ostia derives from Latin os 'mouth'. The city continued to be prosperous into late antiquity despite harbour deterioration. After its abandonment, sand dunes covered the site and aided the city's preservation, which is surpassed only by Pompeii and Herculaneum. Ostia Antica is now a large archaeological site noted for the excellent preservation of its ancient buildings, magnificent frescoes and impressive mosaics. Read the surviving remains as parts of a larger setting rather than isolated objects. Their positions, scale and materials can help you picture the activities that once took place here and distinguish ancient fabric from later reconstruction.