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Ancient Ostia was the port of Ancient Rome. As Ostia was the main sea-port of the Roman Empire it followed the History of Rome, from its birth, its rising and full decandence. But, unlike Pompeii & Herculaneum, there are tons of later Roman buildings, e.g. done in the late Roman Empire: II, III, IV and V Centuries A.D. buildings, condos, baths, villas. Pompeii, after 79 A.D., no more history due to the eruption of the Vesuvius. Ostia is the only archaeological site near Rome where people may really appreciate how about the real old Roman lifestyle was coupled nowadays with their beautiful ruins.

Despite its extension (70 hectares - 173 acres), Ancient Ostia is quite preserved, better than Rome, due to different floodings of the Tiber River. "Ostia", in Latin, means "mouth" in English.

Ostia and then later Portus, the latter being located on the other side of the Tiber River- were more than ancient Rome ports. They were safe harbours and quays, other than complete towns. Many items - food, wine, olive oil, wheat - were stored in the warehouses in the harbour cities and thus transported to Rome along the Tiber in tow-boats, pulled by oxen, or by using the two of the famous Roman roads: the Via Ostiense on the left and the Via Portuense on the right side of the Tiber River - still used every day -. With Caesar Augustus, several guilds became increasingly important. These were associations of craftsmen and merchants, other than fire fighters (Vigiles).

In my opinion, Ostia Antica is second only to the Scavi of Pompeii & Herculaneum.

Costs:

• From 1 up to 5 people: EUR 500,00 for 5 hours tours + your entrance fees (being official Rome Tour Guide, we never pay these)
• From 6 to 14 people: EUR 600,00 for 5 hours tours + your entrance fees (being official Rome Tour Guide, we never pay these)

If you are/have a group, from 15 people up to 50 (upon request, our tours do not run every day): EUR 50,00 per person, including the entrance fees with reservation and head-sets thorughout for the four hours of tour.

TRANSPORTATION and the Half day Guided Tour of ANCIENT OSTIA:

We can reach Ostia Antica from Rome by Train. The ride is appx. 40 minutes. We suggest to have this option only in case visitors don't have many other plans for the rest of the day ... as it takes time to go from Rome to the Station leaving to Ostia and then going into the Scavi, do the tour, and going back. This is the reason why I considered 5 hours excursions from Rome without our private transportation (car/minivan-driver).

If you want to use one of our private drivers along with deluxe car (Sedan/Minivan, etc), we will be doing 4 hours, as it takes only 45' to get to Ostia from Rome downtown. Below are the costs for transportation:

• From 1 to 7 people, we will be using a private minivan/driver, whose additional cost for the 4 hours tours in the afternoon is EUR 200,00 total.
• From 8 to 12 people, the additional cost for a minibus/driver is EUR 250,00 total (4 hours at disposal, minibus permits included)
• From 13 to 18 people, the additional cost for a minibus/driver is EUR 300,00 total (4 hours at disposal, minibus permit included)

GUIDED TOURS - GROUP TOURS AT ANCIENT OSTIA: on request.