PROJECT PARTNERS
Parco archeologico di Ostia
Ministry of Culture, Roma, Italy
The archaeological Park of Ostia antica is an autonomous institute of the Ministry of Culture. It is also one of the largest archaeological parks in Europe; it manages a 150 ha area with 13 archaeological sites, 4 museums and a vegetal patrimony of 2000 monumental trees plus typical Mediterranean species. Its entire territory is subdued to natural and archaeological protection, and the Offices have both monumental and land protection competences. In its mission, the Park helds the protection of cultural heritage, education, scientific research, promoted by organizing scientific conferences. It is winner of the European Heritage Label*.
The main sites of the Park are undoubtedly the archaeological area of Ostia antica, an entire roman city, and the archaeological area of the Ports of Claudius and Trajan, one of the main harbours of the Roman Empire; the other sites, minor in size but of relevant historical importance too, are the Renaissance castle of Pope Julius II in Ostia antica village, the Necropolis of Porto on the Isola Sacra, the monumental complex of S. Ippolito and the Museum of Roman Ships, plus other minor areas not already opened to the public.
The boundaries of the Park take into account what the Ostia-Portus system was in ancient times, recalling the administrative, topographical, functional link that existed between the great port of the empire's capital and the city at the mouth of the Tiber which administered it directly.
Institution’s Role in the GH Project
WP5 GreenHeritage Community Labs with focus on - T5.1 Identify and engage local stakeholders (e.g. Schools, Universities, Youth centres) for archaeological parks to collaborate with for implementing educational programs
Notable Achievements
The Archaeological Area of Ostia antica achieved the European Heritage Label in 2020. European Heritage sites bring to life the European narrative and the history behind it. The European Heritage Label is a recognition awarded by the European Union to buildings, documents, museums, archives, monuments or events which are seen as milestones in the creation of today's Europe. The program is managed by the European Commission.
Contact Information
TEAM MEMBERS
Brief Biography:
Official Architect at the Archaeological Park of Ancient Ostia since 2018. A graduate in architecture, Phd in Settlement Redevelopment and Recovery - Architectural Restoration at the Faculty of Architecture Valle Giulia, Sapienza di Roma, she has carried out teaching and research activities at the same faculty from 2002 to 2012 in the field of sustainable building and energy efficiency of historic and traditional buildings; as an adjunct professor she has taught in the courses of Environmental Design, Architectural Technology and collaborated in the courses of Building Recovery Technology.
He has gained experience in research, planning and design of vocational training in the field of sustainable construction (ISFOL expert Institute for the development of training of workers 2002-2013) and has been teaching, between 2002 and 2018, at training institutions of different order and degree: undergraduate (2001-2012), postgraduate (2002, 2010): scholastic (high schools of first and second grade,2014-2018).At the Archaeological Park of Ancient Ostia, he carries out architectural restoration, protection and conservation of cultural, architectural and landscape heritage, care and protection of archaeological areas, design and construction supervision of green maintenance and enhancement works. She is also in charge of the Park's Fundraising and International Calls Service, and follows as coordinator the presentation and participation in national and international funding calls. She is also a member of the following Services and Offices of the Park:
• Technical Office Educational Service;
• Studies and Research Office;
• Green Management and Maintenance Service;
• Service for Restoration and Maintenance of Decorum, Public Presentation and Scheduled Maintenance;
• Cartographic and Document Systematization and Digitization Service
She is currently coordinating as project manager, the Park's participation in the AHEAD project, Accessible Heritage Experience for Audience Development, (CREA-CULT-2023-COOP,ID 101131914).
Responsibilities within the Project:
She is currently coordinating, as project manager, the Park's participation in the Green Heritage project.
Brief Biography:
Marina Lo Blundo has been an archaeological officer at the Archaeological Park of Ostia antica since 2017. She holds a degree in Conservation of Cultural Heritage from the University of Genoa, a specialization in Classical Archaeology from the same university and a PhD in Conservation of the Object of Art and Architecture from the University of RomaTre; she also holds a level II master's degree in Expert in Historical Communication from the same university.
She has been working in the museum field since 2006; from 2010 to 2017 he worked, at the National Archaeological Museum of Florence (Ministry of Culture) with the role of Supervisory and Reception Assistant, carrying out tasks also related to the educational activities and social and web 2.0 communication activities of the Museum.
She has gained extensive experience in the field of archaeological and museum communication, particularly in social and 2.0 institutional communication (websites and blogs). She has dedicated and devotes scientific articles, speeches at conferences, and university lectures to the topic.
She’s editor of the book “Femminicidio e violenza di genere nell’antica Roma” (Feminicide and Gender-Based Violence in Ancient Rome) (Italy 2024).
For her work in disseminating archaeology on the web and social media (and podcast), she won the Ugento Zeus Prize for Archaeology (2023).
At the Archaeological Park of Ancient Ostia she holds the following positions: scientific manager of the Archaeological Area of the Ports of Claudius and Trajan (Fiumicino); head of the Photographic Archive; head of the Communication Office; site contact person for the European Heritage Label - European Heritage Label.
Responsibilities within the Project:
Responsible for aspects of communication and dissemination regarding the Park activities.
Brief Biography:
Dario Daffara has been an archaeologist at the Ostia Antica Archaeological Park since 2018. Graduated in cultural heritage sciences and classical archaeology at the University of Pavia, he specialized in late ancient and medieval archaeology at the University of Bologna. Before joining the Ministry of Culture, he worked as an external collaborator of the Archaeological Superintendence of Lombardy and as a cultural mediator at the Triennale di Milano, collaborating in the curation of exhibitions, drafting scientific contributions for class A scientific journals and holding conferences and conventions in various locations.
He currently deals with educational services, the Library, the Study and Research Office and the archaeological protection of the X Municipio, as well as the scientific care of the archaeological areas of Pianabella, Procoio, Sant'Ercolano and Tor Boacciana.
As part of his duties he organized conferences and study days. He edited the publication of the Guide to the Christian itineraries of the territories of Ostia and Portus.
Responsibilities within the Project:
As the person in charge of Educational Services, his involvement is useful in the relationships with stakeholders, in particular with local schools, and in the co-creation of the activities that will take place during the project.
Brief Biography:
A naturalist and anthropologist phD, she worked for many years as a freelancer at the bioarchaeology laboratory of the Prehistoric Ethnographic Museum “Luigi Pigorini” (now the Museum of Civilizations), where she specialized in the leading field of research dedicated to the Histology of dental enamel.
Inserted in the roles of the Mic, she was part of the staff of the Central Institute for Catalogue and Documentation - Service for the Quality of Catalographic Standards, where she supervised the working group for the updating of the AT (Anthropological Heritage) card and where she coordinated the working group for the management of ancient human remains in collaboration with ICA - Central Institute for Archaeology. For ICCD, he is still the contact person for the cataloguing of Natural Heritage. Since 2018 he has been in charge of the Anthropology Service of the Archaeological Park of Ancient Ostia where he carries out a project for the protection and knowledge of human skeletal remains from archaeological excavations pertaining to the Park. Since 2025 he has been a member of the Commission for the Census of Relics, Corpus Christi, Bodies of Saints established by the CEI in order to carry out a census on the national territory.
Responsibilities within the Project:
As the person in charge of Educational Services, his involvement is useful in the relationships with stakeholders and in the co-creation of the activities that will take place during the project, giving a contribution on the issues of environmental sustainability and individual health.
Brief Biography:
Official Architect at the Ministry of Culture – Soprintendenza Belle Arti e Paesaggio del Comune di Roma since 2012, at the Archaeological Park of Ostia antica since 2017. A graduate and Phd in architecture, gained expertise in Urban planning and techniques of urban fortification in antiquity; addresses the restoration and enhancement of cities that preserve ancient city walls / methodical experience in urban-historical research and recognition of historical-structural and environmental values worthy of preservation, the enhancement and integration of which in urban development can provide the city with consistency of form and better use of spatial resources.
At the Archaeological Park of Ancient Ostia he holds the following specific positions: Officer in charge of architectural and landscape protection, Environmental Impact Assessments, Strategic Environmental Assessments for the assigned territories; Technical manager of the Archaeological Area of the Imperial Ports of Claudius and Trajan, Monte Giulio and cd. Capitaneria, Fiumicino (RM); Responsible for the green management and maintenance service (August 2022 - December 2023); Design coordination of green maintenance works (from August 2022); Single Project Manager and/or Director of Works for restoration work on structures and buildings of archaeological interest and for new construction or restoration and functional recovery of post-antique buildings.
In the area of landscape matters: Coordination of verifications to the REGIONAL LANDSCAPE TERRITORIAL PLAN in the approval phase for the Park territory (2020 - 2022).
In the area of care and management of the vegetation of the Archaeological Park: Preparation of annual projects for the maintenance and enhancement of the vegetation of the Archaeological Park; coordination of the project of drafting the “Multi-year management plan for the ecopaesisthic improvement of the wooded complex and vegetation of the Archaeological Area of the Ports of Claudius and Trajan”; Project manager for the drafting of Guidelines for the maintenance and management of the green area of the Archaeological Park.
Responsibilities within the Project:
Being an architect interested in the theme of historic parks and gardens, and having a university background, his interest lies in involving scientific and academic stakeholders in the fields of interest of the project (landscape, environmental sustainability, green care)