Ostia Antiqua

We hopped onto the metro early yesterday morning and then transferred out to the one that takes us to the beach. Ostia was the first colony of Rome, built on the banks of the Tiber right next to the coast. The Tiber isn't anywhere near the ruins anymore, because one of the Roman emperors actually re-routed the river in later years. It was really cool to see nearly an entire city's foundations still intact. We walked on the old roads (reconstructed with the original stones during Mussolini's time; but they weren't fitted together nearly as well the second time as they had been originally set) and went through the cemetary outside the city walls, then looked around the city. We had our tour guide from the Colusseum with us again, which was fun; she knows so much stuff! We got to see ancient public restrooms, bathhouses, apartments, shopfronts, and the corporate district. It was really hot and there wasn't a lot of shade, so by the time we were done, we were really ready to go back. Some people headed to the beach, but the rest of us headed back to Rome. I went with the professors to an amazing little place for lunch that makes basic, home-cooked Italian food. I had roasted veal with potatoes and it was so yummy!

Pictures:

A temple of the cult of Mithras. It was a lot cooler down there, but kinda damp and buggy.

Huge mosaic on the floor of the big bath complex in the city.

The street between two lines of apartment houses.

Overlooking the baths. The big grassy area you see was the gymnasium part of the baths.