Calling all enthusiasts of ancient Roman ruins! If the Roman Forum and Pompeii were on your ‘sights to see list’ -- come see what experts are calling “The Better Pompeii”, just a step away from the Eternal city by local train.

The beautifully preserved ruins of ‘Ostia Antica’ or Ancient Ostia were founded in the 4th century BC and once inhabited by over 100,000 people. Ancient Ostia is commonly referred to as “The Better Pompeii” due to the astonishing highly preserved condition of its buildings. Structures included taverns, baths, apartments, groceries and theatres – and their intact state so strikingly exceeds that of the Roman Forum, Imperial Forum and Pompeii, that it seems a misnomer to call them ‘ruins’. Here it’s easy to let your imagination fly and feel like you’ve been transported back in time -- in this once bustling Roman harbor town the ruins are so isolated that no modern houses, roads and telephone wires are visible.

Walk the main street, the Decumanus Maximus, while your tour guide brings the stones around you to life. The Roman statues that line the walkways are in such perfect condition you’ll feel as though you are walking amongst the ancient Romans themselves! You’ll even be enticed to take a dip in the Baths of Neptune, which are crowned by a impressively intact mosaic of the sea god being drawn by a four horse chariot. And if you are a theatre fan, you shouldn’t miss Ancient Ostia’s amphitheatre – whose structure is still so stable that you will be able to take your place in the stands as 3,500 ancient Roman spectators once did back in 12BC when it was first constructed.

Among Ostica Antica’s many stunning sites that we’ll visit there is also the communal forica – or toilettes. Each apartment building has at least one for use by the tenants – and there is one particularly striking example – where a marble bench lined with twenty well-spaced holes lines four walls of a large, open room. Have a seat on one of the holes – and suddenly the more daily and human aspects of ancient Roman life become strikingly apparent.

This unique tour of Ancient Ostia & Train Trip from Rome departs Rome by local train and you will be whisked on a brisk 30 minute ride through the western Roman countryside. Your fluent English speaking tour guide takes care of all train tickets and making sure you everyone gets off at the right stop. All entrance tickets are included in the tour and the all of the major sites of Ancient Ostia will be covered in a 2.5 hour leisurely walk through the ruins.

At the end of the tour clients will have the option to remain at Ancient Ostia, explore the city of Ostia or even explore the nearby beach. The tour includes the train ticket back to Rome and clients can choose to return with the guide at the conclusion of the tour or head back on their own.

Don’t miss the chance to experience the “Better Pompeii” on our tour of Ancient Ostia & Train Trip from Rome.

• 44,00 euro per adult
• 39,00 euro per child (4-14)
• Infants up to 3 years old travel for free and do not require a reservation.

Sites Visited

• Highlights of the tour include, but are not limited to: Train ride to and from Ancient Ostia, Baths of Neptune, the main street Decumanus Maximus, Ostia’s Amphitheatre, Forum of the Corporations, the Collegiate Temple, the laundry shop and public baths.

Operating Days

• Sunday, Wednesday

Duration

• 4 hours including train trip

Blackout Dates

May 1

Season

March 21 until November 21, 2010

• Tour as per description
• Limited groups of no more than 25 persons
• Train ticket to and from Rome
• Ancient Ostia entrance ticket
• Break to grab something to eat or drink at the snack bar and use the facilities
• English speaking tour guide

Exclusions

• Gratuities
• Hotel pick-up/drop-off

Meeting Time

• 08:25 AM

Departure Time

• 08:40 AM

Meeting Point

• Cafe Piramide, when facing the Piramide metro (Line B – the blue line) stop on your right hand side is the cafè, just in view of the train tracks and the exit from the trains. You can recognize the cafè by the red umbrellas on the tables outside.

• Ending point: The service concludes in Rome at the Metro Stop ‘Piramide’ between 1:00PM and 1:30PM.
• Guests are free to remain in Ostia after the tour if they so choose but they will be unaccompanied. Return train tickets are provided to all customers.
• It is the individual responsibility of all visitors to arrive at the tour departure points.
• Sneakers and socks are recommended, as the terrain can be rough at times.
• We recommend bringing beachwear along for clients interested in visiting the beach of Ostia unaccompanied after the tour.
• We are unable to accommodate customers with wheelchairs or walking disabilities in a group tour. We recommend they book a private tour.
• In case of a transport strike or other unforeseeable problems with the public transport system, a minibus will be provided at no extra cost to transport the clients to and from Ancient Ostia. The meeting point will remain invariable.

Redemption Policies

• Clients must arrive at the designated meeting point 15 minutes prior to the scheduled tour time and present their tour voucher to the tour coordinator/guide. Late arrivals will not be able to catch up with the group and no refunds will be given for those who arrive after departure time.