Amazing Rome

 

According to legend, Ostia was founded by Ancus Marcius, the 4th king of Rome, who lived during the second half of the 7th century BC - but the first settlement can be traced back to the beginning of the 4th century BC. At the end of that century a squared fortified post (castrum) was built.

 

This castrum, surrounded by strong tufa walls, was called Ostia from the Latin word Ostium meaning "mouth of the river". Ostia was established at a distance of around 16 miles from Rome as a military outpost to keep under control not only the access to the Tiber, but also its lower course and nearby areas, in order to defend Rome.

 

Ostia, the first Roman colony, immediately became a river port acquiring an important commercial function to supply Rome with foodstuff, particularly wheat, even if its strategic military function as naval base certainly prevailed.

 

At the beginning of the tour, before entering the town, we will visit one of the most important necropolises of the city, located outside the city walls, according to the Roman laws. Then along a short stretch of the ancient Via Ostiense, we will pass through the Roman gate to enter the city.

 

Walking along the decumanus maximus, the main road of the old town lined by arcades and workshops, we will see the theater, built in the Augustan age, and the famous Piazzale delle Corporazioni, decorated with beautiful mosaics in black and white, representing the various commercial activities that took place in the city.

 

Following the path of the mills, we will enter the Molino del Silvano, a bakery, built next to one of the largest grain storages of the city; it was equipped with a large number of mills, tanks to knead the dough, and an oven for baking.

 

Along Via Diana, we can admire the imposing insulae, a modern-style apartment block, which were often rented out. Here we will visit the Thermopolium, the most well-known building of Ostia Antica, where it was possible to purchase ready-to-eat food where we can see a well-preserved bar where food was served.

 

Walking, we will arrive at the Forum, the most important square of the city reserved primarily for the selling of goods: a marketplace, along with the buildings used for shops and the arcades used for open stalls. On either side of the Forum are located the most important temples of the city (the Capitolium and the Temple of Rome and Augustus) and some civil buildings (the Curia and the Basilica judicial).

 

In close proximity we will see the huge complex of the Forum Baths, where you can learn about the ingenious system of the Romans to heat the baths, and the nearby forica, the public toilet.

 

We will continue the walk through a residential neighborhood, until we reach the domus of Fortuna Annonaria, a rich late antiquity home, with dining room, private toilet and heated bedroom!

Nearby we will also discover the beautiful mosaic floor of the Mithraeum of Felicissimo, which illustrates the initiation stages of the initiates to the cult of Mithras. We'll also see a great fullonica, a laundry where not only clothes were washed, but also woven cloth was bleached and finished. Turning back to the decumanus maximus, toward the Roman Gate, finally we will admire the sea-themed mosaics of the Baths of Neptune.