We're at Ostia Antica today. If Pompeii had a less dramatic sibling who didn't get swallowed by a volcano but just kind of fizzled out, it would be Ostia Antica. Once a bustling port city, it was full of sailors and trade. Now, it's a sprawling maze of brick ruins where your imagination does most of the work. Fun fact: It was Rome's first colony, established in the 4th century BCE, and at its peak had about 50,000 residents. Now it has 50,000 lizards. Bring your strongest daydreaming skills. You'll need them to reconstruct entire buildings in your mind. read more