In 42 a.C. the Imperator Claudius started the building of a big sea port placed some kilometres far from the mouth of the Tiber.
The new port had to face the increased needs of the city of Rome which, during the Republican age, used as ports the insufficient river port of Ostia and the far Pozzuoli’s port.
The realization of the port, of huge dimensions, lasted for many years, so that it was inaugurated under the Neronian Princedom , in 64 a.C. The port dock, south-western oriented, was excavated for a half in the still land, while at sea two converging piers were outstretched, which limited pincerlike a storage with a surface of 150 hectares about.
The masterpiece, even though colossal, was found inadequate. Already in 62 a.C., as Tacitus reports, a tempest destroyed 200 vessels which anchored inside the dock. In the following ten years, it was subject to a progressive covering with sable.
This inconvenient pushed Trajan to create, between 100 and 112 a.C., a new more internal port dock (Trajan’s Port): to which, Claudius’ piers, used as a repair, gave protection.
Nowadays, of the great Claudius’ Port there are left many ruins of the right pier and of the bank which delimited the port on the north-eastern side, towards the land.
The structure of the right pier, brought back to the light in 1957, is placed beyond the Museum of Vessels by continuing up to the internal part of the airport fence.
INFORMATION
Archaeological Objects Service of Ostia
Via dei Romagnoli 717 – 00119 Ostia Antica (RM)
Tel. +39 0656358099 – fax +39 065651500
Museum of the Roman Vessels
Via A. Guidoni, 35 – 00050 Fiumicino Aeroporto (RM)
Tel. +39 06 6529192 +39 06 65010089
Duration of the visit: 1 hour
Ticket: the entry to the archaeological area of Claudius’ Port is free. We advice you its visit together with the nearby Museum of Vessels, inside which, also the monumental ruins of the port are shown.
Open to the public: from Tuesday to Sunday from 9:00 a.m. to 01:30 p.m.; on Tuesday and Thursday also from 02:30 p.m. to 04:30 p.m. . Closed: on Mondays; 1st January; 1st May; 25th December.
Note: on the first Saturday and on the last Sunday of every month, appointment at 9:30 a.m. at the Museum for the guide tour, which includes also the archaeological area of Trajan’s Port.
Upon request by phone it is possible to visit the archaeological area of Mont Julius and the Harbour Master Office.
