The Archaeological Park of Ostia Antica is one of the best known in the province of Rome. The ruins of the city were excavated in the 19th century: numerous residences and production structures have been conserved along with public buildings.
At the entrance to the park, porta Romana opens onto the decumanus maximus, the central axis of the site which extends for 1 km to porta Marina which once overlooked the sea. Standing on the decumanus maximus are the thermal baths of Neptune decorated with numerous mosaics. Next door is the theatre built by Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa. The grassy area that stretches out behind the theatre is the foro delle Corporazioni where the mercantile corporations of Ostia had their offices. It is believed that the mosaics decorating the perimeter symbolize the commercial activities taking place in the square with ships and dolphins indicating seaborne deliveries and an elephant referring to ivory. On the road to porta Marina, there is another place of great interest: the thermopolium, a shop that sold food and drink. The central counter and frescoed menu on the wall are still intact. On the other opposite side of the road are the remains of the thermal baths of the Forum, once the largest thermal complex in the city. There is also a small museum in the park which displays the statues from the sarcophagi found during the archaeological excavations of the site.
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