Tor Boacciana was built near a complex of buildings of the Roman age, linked to port activities, on a concrete nucleus maybe belonging to the basis of an ancient lighthouse. Here, in the ancient times, it was the mouth of the Tiber.

It was built, maybe, during the Middle Age, with sighting and control functions; it could coincide with the tower admired at the entry of the Tiber by Richard the Lion-Heart, who landed on the Ostia shore in 1190, during his travel for the Third Crusade.

The name “Boacciana” can be likely related to the Roman family of "Bobazani", as stated in some documents of the XII-XIV century. One of its representatives, built, in the first ten years of XII century, a castle as a threat of the City of Ostia, of which, only the tower was left. To this family would refer also the Bovacciani’ s hamlet, as recorded in some documents of the XIV-XV century in the Ostian territory.

Afterwards, Tor Boacciana was the seat of the Pontifical customs until when, ten years later, this function was transferred into the new tower, the so called Tor San Michele .

Note: It is not allowed the visit inside the tower, but you are allowed to enter into the archaeological area freely.