Visiting Rome can be overwhelming. Rome offers too much, too many monuments, too much history, too many exhibitions and museums, too many tourists. You might decide to get away from the city’s energy for a day. Here is a suggestion from a local: a day trip to the ancient Roman harbor of Ostia Antica, a perfect refuge from the crowds, traffic horns and selfie stick-wielding tourists of Rome.

Ostia Antica is located west from the center of Rome, very close to the coast and right next to a lovely medieval village dominated by the Castle erected for Cardinal Giulio II. Don’t forget your bathing suit and flip flops with you as you can finish the day with a relaxing afternoon at the Ostia seashore side.