Ostia Antica Audio Guide

Long before it faded into history, Ostia Antica thrived as Rome’s vibrant gateway to the sea—a sprawling port city dwarfing Pompeii in scale. Over centuries, it transformed from a fortified outpost to a naval stronghold, a bustling trade center, and finally a luxurious escape for Rome’s elite.

Join archaeologist and Context Travel guide Livia Galante on an illuminating two-hour journey through this ancient landscape, where she’s spent years uncovering its stories. With Livia’s voice in your ear, you’ll trace the ruts of cartwheels along timeworn streets, imagining the lives of merchants, sailors, and families who shaped this dynamic hub. Her insights reveal how Ostia mirrored the Roman Empire’s triumphs and trials, offering a window into the everyday rhythms of a cosmopolitan metropolis.

Your audio tour begins at the ticket office of the Parco Archeologico di Ostia Antica. From there, you’ll meander through neighborhoods of towering insulae, explore lively market squares, and step into majestic public spaces that reflect the genius of Roman city design. Along the way, Livia shares the intricacies of her craft, from the thrill of discovery to the challenges posed by Mussolini’s rushed excavations in the late 1930s and early 1940s, which both exposed and endangered this remarkable site.

This Ostia Antica audio tour invites you to:

• Reflect on ancient rituals at the Necropoli della via Ostiense, where urns and sarcophagi trace the evolution of Roman burial traditions
• Admire the vivid mosaics of the Neptune Baths, their black-and-white tiles alive with mythical sea creatures
• Stand in the Teatro di Ostia, a grand 3,000-seat theater still hosting performances under the stars
• Uncover the Portico of the Corporations, where mosaic floors tell the stories of trade guilds from across the empire
• Peek inside a preserved Thermopolium, its counter and painted menu offering a taste of Roman dining
• Explore the Insulae, where shopkeepers lived above their stores in a layout that echoes today’s urban life  

This gentle two-hour stroll through Ostia Antica feels like stepping into a living Roman neighborhood, far from the crowds of more famous ruins. With its intact streets and homes, Ostia offers a rare, authentic connection to the people who built an empire—and the port that linked it to the world. Let curiosity guide you as Livia brings their stories to life, making you feel at home in this ancient city.