Ostia (Rome)

The name of Ostia derives from the Latin ostia, in turn plural of the neuter ostium i.e. 'mouth', or alternatively 'door, entrance'. The current placename is a reference to the original settlement in the eighth century BC at the mouth of the river Tiber and precisely called Ostia Tiberina.^[3]

The settlement of Ostia, according to tradition, was built under the reign of the fourth king of Rome Ancus Marcius,^[4] around 630 BC, as the first official Roman colonia on the then coastline of the Tyrrhenian Sea and near the mouth of the Tiber river. Ostia Antica was the port city of ancient Rome, and is often referenced in writings from the times of the Roman Republic and the Roman Empire. It was the main port of Republican Rome, the main function of Ostia was that of supplying salt and grain although the archaeological site suggests that it had, in the beginning, an important military function as the base of the first Roman fleets. Proof of its importance is the exemption from military conscription during the Second Punic War. Later the port, partially blocked by a sandbank, became unsuitable for large ships and was replaced by the hexagonal port of Trajan.^[2]

Already since the 3rd century it was the seat of the bishop of Ostia. Ostia Antica was especially important as the site of the death of Saint Monica (mother of Saint Augustine) in 387 in a house property of the Diocesi of Rome, on their way back to Africa after Augustine's conversion to Christianity.^[5]

Given the important position at the mouth of the Tiber, Cardinal Giuliano della Rovere ordered the construction of a fortress to defend the river to stem pirate raids;^[6] however, a major flood in 1557 diverted the course of the river, nullifying the strategic function of the fort, which was supplanted by Tor San Michele and Tor Boacciana.^[7]

An important stand in Italian nationalism of the 19th century was a veneration for the glories of the Roman past, manifested in a wish to revive or recreate various places and institutions connected with Ancient Rome. In 1871, the city of Rome became the capital of the new Kingdom of Italy. A recreation of Ostia was an obvious additional step.

The modern neighbourhood of Ostia was founded in 1884, near the remains of Ostia Antica. This was possible after reclamation of the nearby marshland, which was infested by malarial mosquitos. The first inhabitants were peasants coming from Ravenna, in Romagna. Due to the opening of the urban Roma–Ostia railway in 1924, the new village soon became the favourite sea resort of the Romans, while many Art Nouveau houses were built on the waterfront.

The new village was connected to central Rome through the new Via Ostiense, which was opened in 1907. During the Fascist period, the government massively expanded the neighbourhood, which got its ultimate architectural character due to many new buildings in Stile Littorio. The neighborhood was planned, and partially built, according to the urban planning criteria in force at the time and the stylistic themes of Italian rationalism. New infrastructure, such as a second road to Rome (Via del Mare'), the promenade, and a water airport, were all built during this period. The new Via Cristoforo Colombo was built on the occasion of the 1942 universal exhibition, to connect the EUR district to Ostia and the center of Rome.

After World War II, many bathing establishments were built on the seaside, and Ostia experienced a tourist boom.

Italian intellectual, film director and poet Pier Paolo Pasolini was assassinated near the water aerodrome on 2 November 1975.^[8]

In 1976, Ostia became part of the X Municipio of the comune of Rome. Nowadays, due to the expansion of the city, only the Park of Castelfusano separates Ostia from the other quarters of Rome.

The Ostia quarter is an active seaside resort, the official seaside resort of the city of Rome, equipped with beaches, dedicated facilities, restaurants, hotels and points of interest. Ostia, due to its historical roots and its natural characteristics, is an important tourist location. It is known and famous, as it was at its origins when it was completely regenerated during the fascist period, as the "Sea of Rome", and consequently has become one of the most populous and sought-after neighborhoods in Rome.^[9]

The main (and often crowded) free beaches of Ostia extend in the southern area, protected with dunes and rich in Mediterranean flora.

• Marina of Rome, between the Duca degli Abruzzi seafront and via dell'Idroscalo. It is a tourist port, with more than 800 yachts, and various shops, restaurants, and walking spaces in addition to shipyards
• Ostia Antica archaeological site, the port city of ancient Rome. With an area of 150 hectares, it is the largest archaeological park in the world.^[10] Only 40% of the excavations have been completed, and more than half of the ancient city is still buried. In 2019, it received the European Heritage Label^[11]
• Burg of Ostia Antica
• Pontile di Ostia, a terraced platform on the Roman coast, with a panoramic view of the sea. It was once the platform that connected to the "Roma bathing establishment", with the outbreak of the World War II. Following the events of the armistice of Cassibile in 1943, it was destroyed by the Axis powers retreating from Rome.^[12]

• Santa Maria Regina Pacis a Ostia Lido
• Santa Monica di Ostia
• Tor San Michele
• Villa Sacchetti at Castelfusano

• Centro Habitat Mediterraneo
• Castelfusano
• Capocotta beach, part of the Litorale Romano State Nature Reserve
• Zoomarine, zoological and amusement park, located in Torvaianica, about 20 km (12.5 mi) from Ostia along the Roman coast

The neighborhood is located on the Tyrrhenian coast, close to Acilia and separated from Fiumicino by the mouth of the Tiber. Other borders are the pine forest of Castelfusano and Viale dei Promontori, which represents the border with the residential areas of Casal Palocco and Infernetto, while to the south it borders with Torvaianica, a frazione of the municipality of Pomezia.

The territory is almost completely flat with small hilly reliefs made up of dunes. The vegetation is composed of Maquis shrubland (macchia) and there are several centuries-old pine forests made up of domestic and maritime pines, holly oaks, elms and poplars. Ostia has a Mediterranean climate (Köppen climate classification: Csa, a code indicating warm-temperate with dry, hot summers).^[13] Located on the coast, enjoys warmer winters and cooler summers than central Rome.

The regional Metromare, which carries over 90,000 passengers a day, connects Rome's Ostia neighborhood to the centre of Rome, providing up to 12 journeys per hour during rush hour. The full length of the line is 28.359 kilometres (17.621 mi). It has 13 stops, and the journey time is roughly 37 minutes.^[15] The Metromare railway intersects the metro line B at the EUR Magliana and Basilica San Paolo stations and at the terminus Roma Porta San Paolo, where it is possible to change to the station Piramide (Rome Metro, Line B) and with the Roma Ostiense railway station.

Rail stops in the Ostia quarter are Ostia Antica, Lido Nord, Lido Centro, Stella Polare, Castel Fusano and Cristoforo Colombo.

Rome-Fiumicino airport is about 10km (6.2 mi) north from the center of Ostia, and is connected to it by the SS296 regional road. The sea quarter of Rome-Ostia is connected to central quarters of Rome and the Grande Raccordo Anulare (GRA) via the streets Via Cristoforo Colombo and Via Ostiense (SS8 bis). Cotral buses provide a rapid connection service from the Lido di Ostia Centro station of the Metromare to Fiumicino airport.^[16]

•   Ostia travel guide from Wikivoyage
•   Media related to Ostia at Wikimedia Commons