Ostia (Rome)

Ostia (/ˈɒstiə/, Italian: [ˈɔstja]; officially Lido di Ostia) is a large neighbourhood in the X Municipio of the comune of Rome, Italy, near the ancient port of Rome, which is now a major archaeological site known as Ostia Antica. Ostia is also the only municipio or district of Rome on the Tyrrhenian Sea, and many Romans spend the summer holidays there.

Ostia
Frazione
Northern Ostia
Ostia
Location of Ostia in Italy
Coordinates:
Country Italy
RegionLazio
ProvinceProvince of Rome
ComuneRome
Elevation
5 m (16 ft)
Population
 (2010)
 • Total85,301
Demonym(s)Ostiensi
Time zoneUTC+1 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal code
00121 - 00122
Dialing code06

History

Ostia Antica was 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.[1]

The neighbourhood was founded in 1884, near the remains of Ostia Antica, the port city of ancient Rome. This was possible after reclamation of the nearby marshland, which was infested by malaria. 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 thanks to many new buildings in Stile Littorio. New infrastructures, like a second road to Rome (Via del Mare'), the promenade, and a water airport were all built during this period.

After World War II, many bathing establishments were built on the sea side, and Ostia experienced a tourist boom. The new Cristoforo Colombo avenue connected Ostia with the EUR district in Rome. However, sea pollution, which became apparent during the 1970s, lowered the popularity of Ostia as a sea resort.

The building of the Leonardo da Vinci Airport in Fiumicino in 1956 made Ostia an attractive district for airport and airline workers. Italian intellectual, film director and poet Pier Paolo Pasolini was assassinated near the water aerodrome on 2 November 1975. 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.

Geography

The town is located on the Tyrrhenian coast, close to Acilia and separated from Fiumicino by the mouth of the Tiber. Located on the coast, Ostia enjoys warmer winters and cooler summers than central Rome.

Climate data for Ostia
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Average high °C (°F) 12.9
(55.2)		 13.7
(56.7)		 15.3
(59.5)		 18.0
(64.4)		 22.0
(71.6)		 25.6
(78.1)		 28.6
(83.5)		 28.7
(83.7)		 26.0
(78.8)		 22.0
(71.6)		 17
(63)		 14
(57)		 20.3
(68.6)
Average low °C (°F) 3.7
(38.7)		 4.4
(39.9)		 5.8
(42.4)		 8.3
(46.9)		 11.9
(53.4)		 15.6
(60.1)		 18.2
(64.8)		 18.4
(65.1)		 15.8
(60.4)		 12.0
(53.6)		 8.1
(46.6)		 5.1
(41.2)		 10.6
(51.1)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 81
(3.2)		 76
(3)		 66
(2.6)		 56
(2.2)		 33
(1.3)		 15
(0.6)		 15
(0.6)		 33
(1.3)		 69
(2.7)		 94
(3.7)		 110
(4.4)		 89
(3.5)		 737
(29.1)
Source: Servizio Meteorologico[2]

Transportation

The regional Rome–Lido railway, which carries over 90,000 passengers a day, connects Ostia 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. The Roman terminal is at Roma Porta San Paolo station, very close to the Piramide stop (Rome Metro, Line B) and close to Roma Ostiense railway station.

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

Footnotes
  1. Augustine, E. (1977). Confessions. London: Penguin. pp. 196–197. ISBN 014044114X.
  2. "Ostia" (PDF). Servizio Meteorologico. Retrieved 12 October 2012.
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  • Ostia travel guide from Wikivoyage
  • Media related to Ostia at Wikimedia Commons
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