32 students from two universities headed out by train from Rome’s Porta San Paolo and spent the morning exploring the back streets and monuments of Rome’s ancient port. Preserved in mud the way Pompeii was preserved in lava, but bearing witness to many more centuries of ancient history, Ostia provides a comprehensive look at Roman history but not only: it is a prototype for urban culture of any period. The small teams of students had great fun as they documented their findings in this short but fascinating visit. Next time, if the weather is warmer, they’ll stay on the train one more stop to Ostia Lido.
