Ostia Antica

Once we arrived at Termini, we went right out to Ostia Antica ~ Rome's "first colony". Closer than Pompeii, and less crowded than that more famous ancient city, exploring Ostia Antica makes for a fascinating precursor to exploring the sites in Rome proper. We could have wandered there the entire day, and did stay several hours longer than I'd anticipated. There's a mysterious air about it~ as if, just around the next corner, you'll be transported 2500 years back in time.

This picture ~ modern boy in an ancient door frame ~ captivates me. The apartment complex is thought to have had three or four stories originally.
This well-preserved tavern was a favorite spot of ours. One of the wonderful things about Ostia Antica is that you can immerse yourself in the site rather than merely view it from afar.

Mosaics like this, in remarkable condition given their age, can be found throughout the town.