Ostia Antica

Rome's harbour city is one of the best-preserved ancient Roman sites anywhere, comparable to Pompeii but reachable by a 30-minute commuter train on a EUR 1.50 metro ticket. The ruins cover a vast area: apartment blocks (insulae) rise to three storeys, black-and-white mosaic floors survive intact in the bathhouses, and the ancient theatre still hosts summer performances. A main street lined with shops, taverns, and a laundry gives an uncanny sense of daily Roman life. Unlike Pompeii, you can often explore entire sections alone, hearing only birdsong and wind through the umbrella pines.