Ostia Antica....worth the trip?
 

We are finally leaving for Italy on Friday!!! The 2nd week will be spent in Rome. What do you think of Ostia Antica as an alternative to Pompeii?

I stayed there last year. It's a cute town by the beach. There are some sight seeing areas in town, but I don't think it's worth a visit in October.
I did like it because many European tourists were there from Germany, Austria, etc.

I think she was referring to Ostia Antica as a historical site,not for the beach per se. I have yet to visit,but I understand it is a great choice as an alternative to Pompeii.

I don't think the beach town is much, but I'm assuming Kathy is talking about the massive historic city ruins. Yes! We spent the better part of a day there and found it fascinating. They had some new signs this summer with numbers and symbols for an audio guide, but they told us they didn't have them available yet. If they do, that's what I'd do. We bought a guidebook, but had a lot of difficulty following it as many places aren't marked and sometimes it was difficult finding what buildings they were talking about. The smallish museum is interesting as well -- mainly some interesting sculptures.

I'm not sure that I'd say it is equal in its ability to impress as Pompeii, but it is sure a lot closer and easier to get to from Rome, and certainly very interesting if you're into ruins.

A slight warning. I had actually read in one guidebook that Monday was a great day to go as that's the day so many other museums are closed. But we arrived to find it closed as well, and later in checking found all the other guidebooks confirmed the Monday closure!

We spent a day there and found it absolutlely fascinating. I can't speak to its comparison to Pompei as I haven't been to Pompei. But we loved Ostia Antica

I have been to both and would definately include Ostia Antica as an outing from Rome. It doesn't have the history of Pompeii and the volcano, but it is huge, and I think just as impressive. Be sure to pack some snacks, if you walk all the way out it is quite far back to the begining, which only had a small snack bar when we were there.

If your time in Rome is a bit limited you can do Ostia Antica in 2/3 day instead of the full day (and added expense) that trip to Naples will cost. I thought Ostia Antica was well worth it.

Casale-Rental Villa with No Bidet
http://www.angelfire.com/film/casale

Kathy - You might find this link interesting for a 3-D virtual tour, posted by Walter recently:

www.ostia-antica.org/indexes.htm
Regards, Walter

It's definately a good alternative to Pompeii and you can get there in 30 minutes on the subway for about 2 Euros!

Update to a post above. There is now a rather nice cafeteria/restaurant there. We didn't expect it and bought sandwiches at a little newstand near the train station on arrival, but we sat and had drinks at this cafeteria and the food actually looked and smelled wonderful. We shared our table with a worker there who was eating a plate of wonderful looking pasta. There are many wonderful shady spots though to picnic as well!

Thanks for the update on the restaurant, they definately needed one, I wasn't the only person starving that day!

I was there on my trip a few weeks ago, and loved it! I also saw Pompeii on the same trip, and it was really interesting to kind of compare the two venues.

Buon Viaggio,
BC

Bookchick, If you only had time to visit one of these from Rome, which would you pick and why? Please feel free to put Tarquinia on the ballot. We're thinking about that, too.

Defintely Ostia Antica. While I'm glad I went to Pompeii, the ruins in Ostia just seemed easier to negotiate, and I think it's just not as spread out. Also, some of Pompeii is presently closed to the public for restoration (I believe it may have been Walter who mentioned this in a post on the bath houses or the...houses of ill repute), whereas everything in Ostia was open.

I had guides in both places, and found it really helpful, but a lot of Ostia, if not all, I found easy to understand, and it was all open. I used VasTours, they provided motor coach transportation and the guide, and they go to Ostia, I think only on Tuesday and Friday mornings. They dropped me back at my hotel sometime between 1pm and 2pm after the tour ended.

Buon Viaggio,
BC

Thank you very much for the recommendation, Bookchick. Did you notice, by any chance, if the crypt of the Capuchins has reopened? My kids will be crushed if it is still closed for renovation.

One of the crypts is still closed. It's the one below the church right near the Trevi Fountain. I don't think, though, that this is the crypt you're inquiring about, sorry.

I did visit the Catacombs of Domitilla (I really MUST write up the trip report, and am blushing to say I've been back almost 3 weeks now) just outside the city walls of Rome, and did enjoy it.

BC

I'm looking forward to your trip report, Bookchick. Your previous posts have been very helpful. We're counting down: 32 days to my husband's 50th birthday surprise trip.

Thanks, portia.

Wow, I'd say your husband is probably in for the most memorable birthday of his life! What a thoughtful present!

BC

Haven't been to Pompeii, but Ostia Antica had my wife and me enthralled on a day trip earlier in the year. It was an easy train trip, not crowded and quite fascinating in giving a sense of an ancient town. We both highly recommend it.