Together with Pompeii, Ostia Antica is the largest archaeological site in the world.
Even if more than half of the city is still buried, the current visit route with public monuments, residential houses and production facilities offers an amazing testimony of ancient daily life.
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Opening days
From Tuesday to Sunday
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Opening times
- 8.30AM – 4.30PM (25th October - 28th (or 29th) February
- 8.30AM – 5.15PM (1st March - 31st March
- 8.30AM – 7.00PM (1st April – 30th September
- 8.30AM - 6.30PM (1st October - 24th October
The Ticket desk closes one hour before the Park closing time
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Closing
Monday, January 1st, May 1st and December 25th
- Web Archaeological Park of Ostia Antica
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Accessibility
Partially accessible
Before the crippling flood of 1557 the riverbed was significantly different from the current one, its waters ran along the northern part of the city and the coastline was closer than it is today to the buildings.
According to the legend, Ancus Marcius king of Rome, founded Ostia in 620 BC as a crucial spot to make use of the salt pans at the mouth of the Tiber. The oldest archaeological remains however, date back much later, to the second half of the 4th century BC, and belong to an armed camp (Lat. castrum) built in tufa blocks: it was built by roman settlers to protect the river’s mouth and the Lazio coast.
Ostia had mixed fortunes up to the third century AD. when, due to the increasing navigation difficulties of the Tiber, its port function went into decline.
Additional Info
Discover more about times and visiting rules for the following sites:
- Museo Ostiense
- Decorated Houses
- Imperial Harbours of Claudius and Trajan
- Necropolis of Porto
- Julius II Castle
Where
Viale dei Romagnoli 717 – Roma
Transportation
BY TRAIN
from Rome Porta San Paolo: Metro B - Piramide, Metro B - San Paolo o Metro B - Eur Magliana stations. Ostia Antica station is directly opposite the Park. You can walk to the Park from the station across the footbridge.
Visiting Rules
- Face masks strongly reccommended. Find out more
- Due to the rough conditions of the walking paths, it is recommended to wear comfortable clothing and shoes.
- In order to avoid gatherings as much as possible and to allow for a safe distance between people, the tour route of the archaeological area of Ostia undergoes some changes.
