Intro:
The Roman countryside is one of the most beautiful, relaxing and peaceful areas of the surrounding area of Rome, and oftentimes underrated by the average tourist.
After seeing the beauty of Rome and enjoying its lively and fast atmosphere, you will likely find yourself wanting a bit of relaxation. This tour takes most of our clients by surprise because of the unspoiled countryside that you will experience as you travel through the countryside and then experience the relaxing pace of the tour.

ou will be picked up from your hotel at 9am and returned at 5pm. You will spend half of your day touring the ruins of Ostia, and the remainder of your time will be spent among the beauty and inspirational Etruscan tombs in the town of Cerveteri.

You will travel with Stefano Rome Tours just a short 30 minutes from Rome, and then find yourself amidst the ruins of the ancient Roman city, Ostia Antica.

At its earliest (1400-400 BC), the city was located at the mouth of the river Tiber, but due to silting, it is now situated approximately 3 kilometers from the river. The word “Ostia” means “mouth”; referring to the mouth of the Tiber River.

Ancient tradition suggests that Ostia was founded by the fourth king of Rome, Ancus Marcius, who was believed to have ruled in the late seventh century BC. No archeological remains have been found from this period, and if there was a settlement, it would have been a small city, not a village.

Most of the buildings that have been excavated were built in the first half of the second century, when such notable kings such as Trajan and Hadrian ruled. Due to the addition of a harbor district, Ostia was rich and prosperous until the Severan period in the early third century. During this time, Ostia’s population was roughly 50,000 people, including 17,000 slaves.

While exploring the ruins, you will see the fascinating remains of many different types of buildings and establishments. These include:

Apartments buildings, with two or three upper floors
The so-called medianum-apartments, the habitations of the commercial middle class
Domus, the houses of the upper class
Hotels, brothels, bars and hundreds of shops
Baths and communal latrines
The seats of guilds
Workshops, such as bakeries and fulleries
Store buildings
Public buildings
Temples and little shrines, dedicated to traditional and oriental deities
Wall-paintings
Mosaics
Sculpture
Graffiti
One of Ostia’s most striking features are the baths found throughout the city, some being very large with expensive decorations.
From the fifteenth to eighteenth century, the ruins were searched by foreign visitors for inscriptions and statues. These made their way to private collections in England, France, Portugal, Spain and Russia. They are now mostly in national museums.
You will also see the ancient amphitheatre, where the wealthy and poverty-stricken citizens alike witnessed countless events through the centuries.
After visiting Ostia, we will make our way to Ceri. Stefano believes that Ceri is the most picturesque village in Italy. It is located on a steep hill of tufa, which is a kind of limestone that is very common in Italy. The Etruscans used tufa quite a bit in their tombs. We don’t know much about Etruscan houses, but the Etruscans liked their tombs to look like their houses, so we can get a good idea of what their houses looked like as we tour their fascinating tombs in Cerveteri. Stefano or one of his tour professionals will accompany you through the tombs and explain the fascinating things that you are seeing and experiencing.
Ceri is where you will have lunch fit for a king. Besides the art that abounds, this enchanting town is famous for its two excellent restaurants, "La Sora Lella" and "La Torre". Both restaurants serve exquisite cuisine in the "Maremma Laziale" style, which is influenced by the Tuscan part of Maremma. This cuisine is more linked to the inland than the sea.
La Sora Lella won many awards and prizes for its Ravioli filled with artichokes, and many tour guests have exclaimed that this particular entrée remains the best meal that they have ever experienced during their visit to Italy. Another entrée that is different and delicious is the polenta served old-style on a board as was served in days gone past.
As D.H. Lawrence said:
"The Etruscans were the people who occupied the middle of Italy in early Roman days and whom the Romans, in their usual neighborly fashion, wiped out the entire area to make room for Rome with a big “R”.
The Romans were not the first "big" civilization in Italy; the first ones to start commerce and cities were the fascinating Etruscans.
The Etruscans were huge in their day, and when you see the necropolis (tombs) you will be amazed by these buildings that date back to 4th, 5th, and 6th century BC.
The buildings have been preserved incredibly well and the visit of the necropolis is easily accessible. It is a lovely and enjoyable stroll through this magic valley and if you listen closely enough, you just may hear the souls of the Etruscans speaking their hearts to you.
Most of the incredible treasures excavated found in this area are in the Villa Giulia Museum and the Vatican Museum in Rome, but there are still many more artifacts for you to see in the Etruscan Tomb site. The Etruscan Tomb site is rarely crowded, and you may even find that you have it to yourself to explore at your leisure, leaving you alone with the overwhelming sense of holiness and peace on this sacred burial place.
After seeing the tombs, you may want to taste one of the local wines in one of the many local wineries.

Please note
Entry tickets: 6.50 Euros per person to be paid upon arrival at Ostia and 6.50 Euros per person to be paid upon arrival at the Etruscan Tombs of Cerveteri.
Please note that this tour is not offered on Mondays as Ostia is closed to the public on Monday.