To avoid public unrest, the rulers of ancient rome needed to ensure the steady supply of wheat and other foodstuffs to the city. Ostia, and the cities of the coast of ancient latium, london 1850, p. Many of ostia anticas inhabitants lived in apartment buildings. Find out where it is and what the closest landmarks are on our interactive map. Thought to be the first roman colony, ostia antica was the harbour city of ancient rome and is noted for its impressive mosaics, frescoes and wellpreserved ruins, which give a glimpse into how life was 2000 years ago. It was the major portespecially significant in grain tradefor republican rome until its harbour, partly obstructed by a sandbar, became inadequate for large vessels. The development and characteristics of ancient harbours. On tuesday, we spoke about architecture under the emperor hadrian, the extraordinary emperor hadrian. Its awesome to walk over the old streets where the ancient romans walked.
Ostia antica became romes main seaport during the roman republic 509 bc 27 bc and the city was largely improved by julius caesar and tiberus, during part of the roman empire. Reserve a whole day for your visit not just to relax, but also because ostia deserves it. The early years and development of ostia ostia was founded in the fourth century bc by the roman king ancus marcius, although grant attributes the founding to a later king, servius tullius. An easy train ride from rome, ostia antica is one of italys most thrilling archaeological sites. Located just 19 miles 30 km west of rome and on the river tiber. Ostia was the first harbour of rome, situated at the mouth of the river tiber.
After the collapse of the empire, the city fell into decadence, was eventually abandoned and remained untouched and magnificently preserved for centuries. The citys public face features the forum, capitolium, theater, and piazzale delle corporazioni with its blackandwhite mosaic shipping company advertisements. May 10, 20 ostia or ostia antica lies 15 km from the city of rome for which it served as the citys principal port and harbour throughout antiquity. Virtual travel to ancient ostia, italy italyguides. Pdf ostia is one of the most extensively excavated cities of the roman period. Location map of ostia antica hypothetical river harbours. Ostia antica, the excavations of the ancient roman port, makes a fine day trip done with a single metro ticket from central rome. The name derives from os or ostium which means mouth and refers to the citys location at the mouth of the river tiber. The roman way of life and death at ostia, the port of rome tour of ostia, characterized by multistoried residential buildings and widespread use of brickfaced concrete. The foundation of this lighthouse was provided by filling one of the massive. The romans considered ostia their first colony and attributed its founding for the purpose of salt production to their fourth king, ancus marcius 7th century bce. The neighborhood is also delineated by the porta san paolo, a 3rdcentury gate in the aurelian walls, which is considered the start of via ostiense, the road that. History, facts and travel tips about ancient ostia in republican times ostia was rome s main commercial port and a military base defending the coastline and the mouth of the tiber.
The port continued to flourish under the empire, despite the development, of portus, a new port slightly to the northwest, in the 2nd century ad. Geoarchaeology confirms location of the ancient harbour basin of. Hertz has no problem with a oneway rental pick up in civitavecchia and drop at fco. Ostia is also the only municipio or district of rome on the tyrrhenian sea, and many romans spend the summer holidays there. How to get to the port of civitavecchia port mobility. Du rieu, ostia, romes havenstad, leiden 1863, excerpts. Get free entry to two out of five of romes best attractions, unlimited public transport and even a hoponhopoff bus tour. Ostia antica, via dei romagnoli, 717, rome rm, lazio, italy. Portus, as the primary port of rome itself, was the cornerstone of that system. A guide to exploring ostia antica, romes ancient port city share this article. Port of ostia the above sesterius of nero depicts an aerial view of the port of ostia with eight ships inside the harbor. We talked about the buildings that he commissioned, and some of which he also had a hand in designing, since as we mentioned, he was an amateur.
Nowadays, ostia antica is a large archaeological site. At the top is a pharos surmounted by a statue of neptune, below is a reclining figure of tiber holding a rudder in his right hand and a dolphin in his left. May 16, 2017 ostiathe ancient port of rome rome ostia antica rome, italy 41 75 81. Situated at the mouth, or ostium in latin, of the tiber and about 20 miles from rome, the remains of this once great port town of 60,000 still stand today. However, with the fall of rome, the port was abandoned and the harbor silted up over time. Ostia antica is a large archaeological site, close to the modern town of ostia, that is the location of the harbour city of ancient rome, 15 miles southwest of rome. After a long history of excavations, today ostia is one of the largest and most interesting archaeological sites in italy.
Most of the wheat was imported from egypt and north. Claudius constructed the first harbour on the portus site, 4 km 2 1. A small museum of ostia offers statuaries of tangled wrestlers, kissing cupids, gods, where most of the artworks are from the 2 nd3 rdcenturies a. Apr 17, 2018 serving rome as the chief naval and commercial port in italy, ostia represented both a microcosm of roman urban life as well as a community of rich diversity. As the port was the entrance to rome, about 20 miles away, the city of ostia antica gained importance and grew. In ostia, a search for the secrets of romes port wsj. The ruins are next to the medieval village ostia antica. Ostia antica opening hours, tickets and how to get there rome. During ancient rome it was one of the most thriving cities in the region thanks to its status as romes harbour city. You can see the separate units if you climb the stairs inside. This ebook is an introduction to ostia in 233 pages, fully illustrated by 243 photos, maps and diagrams. The name itself is derived from the latin word ostium for estuary. Read our guide to visiting the amazing archaeological site of ostia antica, the ancient port town of the roman empire.
Once established, the port took on commercial functions associated with supplying rome with food. Ancient roman portcity ostia short history website. At the mouth of the river tiber, ostia was romes seaport, but due to silting the site now lies 3 kilometres 2 miles from the sea. At the mouth of the river tiber, ostia was rome s seaport, but due to silting the. Ostia remained fairly insignificant until the 1 st century ad, when changes by julius caesar and tiberius led to the increasing importance of the town, as a growing urban area and port near rome. Guided visit of ostia antica, the oldest and best preserved port town of the roman empire. Ostia antica is a large archaeological site, close to the modern town of ostia, that is the location of the harbour city of ancient rome. The title of todays lecture is the roman way of life and death at ostia, the port of rome. Find any address on the map of ostia antica or calculate your itinerary to and from ostia antica, find all the tourist attractions and michelin guide restaurants in ostia antica. Ostia was the site of the death of saint monica mother of saint augustine in 387 in a house property of the diocesi of rome, on their way back to africa after augustines conversion to christianity. When rome developed a navy, ostia became a naval station, and during the punic wars 264201 bce it served as the main fleet base on the west coast of italy. According to roman historians the settlement was founded by the fourth king of rome, ancus marcius.
The port system of imperial rome simon keay introduction p ortus, the maritime port of imperial rome, was located some 30km to the southwest of rome, and just under 3km to the north of ostia at the mouth of the tiber. Visiting ostia is like visiting tivoli and hadrians villa. A guide to exploring ostia antica, romes ancient port city. Dec 14, 2016 the harbour of ancient rome, ostia antica, served as perhaps one of the most important hubs of commerce for the roman republic and later the roman empire. View parts of ancient buildings, baths, shoppes, restaurants, and cemeteries. Discover the connections with the train stations in rome and with the airports. In roman architecture, an insula latin for island, plural insulae was a kind of apartment building that housed most of the urban citizen population of ancient rome, including ordinary people of lower or middleclass status the plebs and all but the wealthiest. Locate the best sights and attractions in rome using our free pdf tourist map.
Among all ports of rome, the most important port of course was romes own port ostia see a harbour for rome. The remains of ostia are a testament to its importance a large theatre, many baths and temples, taverns and inns, and even a lighthouse. Take the train from the pyramid station to ostia, walk across the bridge and you are in this old historic site. Many slaves were manual labourers, others were clerks and accountants. Archaeologists have found on the site a fort of the mid4th century bce, but nothing older.
Originally the tiber flowed into the sea precisely at the spot where the romans founded the ancient port city of ostia in the 4 th century b. Oct 05, 2015 nice tour to the old port city of rome. This place is situated in roma, lazio, italy, its geographical coordinates are 41 45 0 north, 12 18 0 east and its original name with diacritics is ostia antica. Read more select points of interest to plot on map by type top attractions top hotels top restaurants top entertainment top nightlife top shopping. General map showing rome, ostia, portus and centumcellae, as well as the principal roads.
Romes ostiense neighborhood is located in the south part of the city, between testaccio and garbatella. Ostia antica is a large archaeological site, close to the modern town of ostia, that is the location of the harbour city of ancient rome, 15 miles 25 kilometres southwest of rome. The map shows the location of the harbour basins, the canals that. A map created by the portus project shows ostia and the port complex at portus, and many of its major features around the century a.
Map of ostia antica michelin ostia antica map viamichelin. Nevertheless, the romans slowly began to depend on other ports, meaning that the commercial activity in ostia slowed down until it fell into decay during the. Map of ostia rome1 rome the history from kings to the. Find detailed maps for italia, lazio, roma, roma, ostia antica on viamichelin, along with road traffic and weather information, the option to book accommodation and view information on michelin restaurants and michelin green guide listed tourist sites for ostia antica. This website is dedicated to ostia, the harbour city of ancient rome. During the age of hadrian there were about 50,000 inhabitants.
Its easy to visit the excavations on a day trip from rome. Beni culturali e ambientali, 1986 and using old maps and coastal. Rome, portus and the mediterranean british school at rome. Ostia was a port of republican rome and a commercial centre under the empire after 27 bce. Rome, portus and the mediterranean the british school at rome. Get free entry to two out of five of rome s best attractions, unlimited public transport and even a hoponhopoff bus tour. The 10 best ostia antica hotel deals may 2020 tripadvisor. The neighbourhood was founded in 1884, near the remains of ostia antica, the port city of ancient rome. The neighborhood is also delineated by the porta san paolo, a 3rdcentury gate in the aurelian walls, which is considered the start of via ostiense, the road that connects rome with the ancient port city of ostia antica. This is the start of a mysterious and fascinating trip. Legend has it that ostia antica was founded at the mouth of the tiber in the 7th century bc by king ancus marciusto to protect rome from attacks coming via the sea. Civitavecchia to ostia antica to fco italy ports cruise. Ostia antica, romes ancient port marthas italy travel guide. Ostia antica map ostia antica michelin maps, with map scales from 11 000 000 to 1200 000.
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