Today my abroad program went on a little jaunt to Ostia Antica. The metro from Piramide to Ostica Antica was a quick and easy way to get to the site of the ancient ruins. It was hard at first to really think of the place as more than a pile of bricks but with a closer look (and a quick reading of the signs) the layout of the town became more clear.At one time in history Ostia Antica was Rome's main commercial port and a military base defending the coastline and mouth of the Tiber River. As you walk down the uneven stone paths, you can see the different areas that were once homes, stores, places of business, and even a theatre. The theatre (pictured above) is in such good condition that it is actually still in use; I saw some concert posters around the area and the stage with modern technology in the middle of this rubble.
I think that Ostia Antica is important because you can see a town and think about how it
functioned way back when. It is helpful that there are no modern monuments or buildings near you while you are observing the ruins; I almost got the feeling that I was in a city that crumbled apart not too long ago. My favorite parts of the remains were the mosaic floors that once adorned people's homes and bath houses. They were a pretty sight compared to the mostly brick and dirt views elsewhere. When you see this ancient art you get an appreciation for the talented people who poured their heart and soul into their homes.[DK Eyewitness Travel: Rome]
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