Ostia Antica

Departure from Rome–Fiumicino Airport “Leonardo da Vinci”, where a private chauffeur at your full disposal will be waiting to take you on a tour to Ostia Antica to discover the origins of Rome’s first colony. The archaeological complex is located at short distance from the airport; if you wish you may stop at a nearby bar for a coffee break. According to tradition Ostia Antica was founded by King Ancus Marcius at the mouth of the Tiber, where, as the poet Virgil recounts, Aeneas landed on his arrival from Troy. Archaeological studies, however, date the first settlement to the end of the fourth century BC, initially limited to the castrum (the citadel), whose tuff remains remain visible. Founded as a military colony to defend the river’s entrance, Ostia Antica was probably also established to exploit the salt pans. Its inhabitants were merchants, shipowners, artisans and workers employed in river and land transport. Numerous foreigners lived there, as testified by sanctuaries and temples dedicated to oriental deities: Persian, Phrygian and Egyptian. Remains of a synagogue have also been found. The excavated area has been divided into regiones—five districts with blocks containing public and private, civil and religious buildings. From the ticket office, taking the Via Ostiense that comes from Rome, you pass on the left a necropolis that runs along the parallel Via delle Tombe. The tombs are of varying forms.