Ostia (town)

Ostia
Frazione
The northern part of Ostia
Ostia Location of Ostia in Italy
Coordinates: 41°43′59.68″N 12°16′44.18″E / 41.7332444°N 12.2789389°E / 41.7332444; 12.2789389Coordinates: 41°43′59.68″N 12°16′44.18″E / 41.7332444°N 12.2789389°E / 41.7332444; 12.2789389
Country	Italy
Region	Lazio
Province	Rome (RM)
Comune	Rome
Elevation	5 m (16 ft)
Population (2010)
• Total	85,301
Demonym(s)	Ostiensi
Time zone	CET (UTC+1)
• Summer (DST)	CEST (UTC+2)
Postal code	00121 - 00122
Dialing code	06

Ostia (/ˈɒstiə/) is a large neighbourhood in the X Municipio of the commune of Rome, Italy, near the ancient port of Rome, named Ostia, which is now a major archaeological site known as Ostia Antica. Ostia (also called Ostia Lido or Lido di Roma or Lido di Ostia) is also the only municipio or district of Rome on the Tyrrhenian Sea and many Romans spend the summer holidays there. With about 85,000 inhabitants, Ostia is the first or second-most populated frazione of Italy, depending on whether Mestre is counted.

The town is located on the Tyrrhenian coast, close to Acilia and separated from Fiumicino by the mouth of the Tiber River (Tevere).

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 (the pond of Ostia), 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 (the Via del Mare), the promenade, and a water airport were all built during this period.