Trying to find exciting things to do in Rome this summer? Visit the Roman town of Ostia

Maybe one of the most exciting things I’ve done in Rome is made a trip to the ruins at Ostia Antica which are examples of the best preserved ruins to date . With its impressive Forum, large baths complicated and more than one Mithraeum, you’ll need a good half day or more to walk around the the Ostia ruins at leisure. Superb for exploring, these ruins are so detailed you can actually think what it would’ve been like to live in this seaside port. Ostia still boasts impressive mosaics and columns everywhere ( statues are generally taken away for safety ), and high spots include the smaller domestic details : the fishmonger’s marble slab, the bar with its wares illustrated on the wall, the communal public toilets and the residential villas with relaxed courtyards. Almost all ruins of Ostia Antica were revealed in the 19th and the first part of the twentieth century. The first methodical excavations, initiated by pope Pius VII, were carried out by Petrini in the years 1801-1805.

the best way to reach Ostia is by using the metro. You can leave your location appartement a rome in the morning and be at Ostia inside half an hour. Trains leave at station Piramide : get off the regular metro at Piramide, go up the escalator, turn instantly left and down the steps into the Roma-Lido station. Trains also leave at station Magliana, but we advise Piramide : this way you’re sure to find a seat on the train. An ordinary metro ticket will suffice for the entire journey. You need to alight at the Ostia Antica stop which is about 20minutes from the city. For a more dramatic route, Ostia is also reachable by ship. You should buy your ticket to take the ship at the information point found near the Tevere stream, in front of Castel San Angelo.

The town of Ostia Lido today is a very different place. A place well-liked by travellers and younger people, Ostia is now a modern, traveller driven resort. Although it might not be everyones cup of tea, it cant be denied that it’s got a extremely cool party scene in the summer. In the summertime months, Romans like to hit Ostias beaches by day, ( to enjoy the sun in one of the many paying beach conglomerates or at the free beach of Castel Porziano ), and by night, when Romans venture out to mingle and party in one of the many clubs on the Ostia main sea strip. If you want to experience the wonderful nightlife at Ostia why not louer appartement a rome and take a short break.

The season in Ostia starts picking up around May and in June when almost all of the clubs start opening their doors to Romans and visitors with their open air dance floors, candle-lit exotic lounge bars where the most cutting edge djs entertain a young and vibrant crowd.
Some of the most well liked spots are the Shilling, the Spiaggetta, the Open Bar ( where you can sip cocktails by the pool ) and the Faber beach ( where folks like to sit without delay on the sand with a bottle of beer and listen to music ).

At 11:00 on Wednesdays, the pope meets his flock at St Peter’s Basilica ( in July and August at Castel Gandofolo ). For free tickets, write to the Prefettura della Casa Pontificia, 00120 Citt del Vaticano. If you’re already in Rome, call or visit the Prefettura ( +06 698 84 631 ; h 09:00 – 13:00 ) thru the bronze doors under the colonnade to the right of St Peter’s. When in the town, the pope also blesses the faithful in St Peter’s Square ( Piazza San Pietro ) on Sundays at noon – no tickets needed.