Vespa Tour “Modern Rome and Ancient Ostia”

The only tour that combines the charm of discovery with the fun of a day at the beach on a Vespa.
Starting from the populous Testaccio neighborhood, we will visit the remains of the ancient port of Emporio, active since Roman times, a landing point for goods that, from the port of Ostia, went up the Tiber on barges.
Here there is a unique archaeological site: the Monte dei Cocci, a landfill used by the Romans to get rid of the amphorae used to transport goods. Thanks to the excavations carried out at the end of the 19th century, it was possible to reconstruct the history of this artificial mountain: the shards were lined up in a precise order until they created an enormous pile whose remains are still visible today. Over the centuries, this neighborhood was first used as a residential settlement for workers from the nearby heavy industries and then, starting in the 1980s, converted into a widespread cultural center. Today Testaccio is home to a University, several museums and a popular music school, as well as numerous nightclubs. Not far from Testaccio, there is a funerary monument in the shape of a Pyramid, erected in 30 BC after the annexation of Egypt to Rome, and still perfectly preserved today.
The neighborhood, so interesting from a historical point of view, is home to an important example of street art: the work created by Blu that covers all the facades of a former barracks between the Basilica of San Paolo Fuori le Mura and the Garbatella neighborhood, a former infamous working-class neighborhood, now a residential neighborhood.
From here on, a beautiful adventure begins: we will discover the entire area of the Lido di Ostia. An immense green area that reaches the sea composed of a pine forest of Roman origin whose history tells the succession of centuries from the Roman era to the present day.
In this area there is also a Borghetto and the castle of Julius II, completed at the end of the 1400s and used as a customs house for papal Rome to regulate the flow of goods from the nearby port. A short distance away is the archaeological area of Ostia Antica, a Roman settlement from the 4th century BC which, at its peak, had 75,000 inhabitants. Today it presents itself as a magical place, where the remains of the Roman city blend with nature that reaches all the way to the sea with its dunes, accumulations of sand carried by the wind that favor the development of lush vegetation present all year round.
The last part of the tour will take us to discover the rationalist architecture of EUR, the neighborhood built to host the universal exhibition that never took place due to the outbreak of the last world conflict. This neighborhood also hosts other examples of fascist architecture: the square Colosseum, built to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the March on Rome and to celebrate urban development towards the sea.
An engaging tour, the only one that manages to combine culture and relaxation in an unforgettable day.
The tour is available in three options: on a Vespa with a professional driver, driving an automatic Vespa alone or with a passenger behind.
If you are an expert scooter driver, you can enjoy the tour even driving for several hours and on busy roads, you can drive yourself. In this case you cannot drink alcohol. The price remains the same but you are responsible for insurance purposes for any damage to the vehicles (third party insurance). For this reason we will have to make a photocopy of your driving license and take your credit card details as a guarantee for the Vespa. You can also take a passenger behind you. In this case you are responsible for insurance purposes for any damage to the vehicles (third party insurance), while your passenger is covered 100%.
Therefore, we will need to make a photocopy of your driver’s license and take your credit card information as collateral for the Vespa.

Security warning:

Your safety is our main concern. For this reason we recommend a previous experience of riding a Vespa, scooter or motorcycle. We reserve the right to decide whether to suspend your participation in the tour if it turns out that you are not able to drive the vehicle safely.
The tour is available by email reservation only and can take place with a personalized itinerary, guidance in your language and in the vehicle of your choice, including vintage cars or Vespas.
To make a reservation, simply send an email to tour@bicibaci.com, and you will be contacted by our staff who will arrange the service according to your needs.
This tour will show you the most authentic and modern Rome living and growing on the ruins of the great empire, far from the tourist destinations.