Via Apia Antica
The Appian Way was one of the earliest and strategically most important Roman roads of the ancient republic. It connected Rome to Brindisi, in southeast Italy. Its importance is indicated by its common name, recorded by Statius:
The road is named after Appius Claudius Caecus, the Roman censor who began and completed the first section as a military road to the south in 312 BC during the Samnite Wars.
The need for roads
The Appian Way was used as a main route for military supplies since its construction for that purpose in 312 B.C.
The Appian Way was the first long road built specifically to transport troops outside the smaller region of greater Rome (this was essential to the Romans). The few roads outside the early city were Etruscan and went mainly to Etruria. By the late Republic, the Romans had expanded over most of Italy and were masters of road construction. Their roads began at Rome, where the master itinerarium, or list of destinations along the roads, was located, and extended to the borders of their domain — hence the expression, "All roads lead to Rome".
Main sights
Via Appia antica
After the fall of the Western Roman Empire, the road fell out of use; Pope Pius VI ordered its restoration. A new Appian Way was built in parallel with the old one in 1784 as far as the Alban Hills region. The new road is the Via Appia Nuova ("New Appian Way") as opposed to the old section, now known as Via Appia Antica. The old Appian Way close to Rome is now a free tourist attraction. It was extensively restored for Rome's Millennium and Great Jubilee celebrations. The first 5 kilometers (3 mi) are still heavily used by cars, buses and coaches but from then on traffic is very light and the ruins can be explored on foot in relative safety. The Church of Domine Quo Vadis is in the second mile of the road. Along or close to the part of the road closest to Rome, there are three catacombs of Roman and early Christian origin and one of Jewish origin.
The construction of Rome's ring road, the Grande Raccordo Anulare or GRA, in 1951 caused the Appian Way to be cut in two. More recent improvements to the GRA have rectified this through the construction of a tunnel under the Appia, so that it is now possible to follow the Appia on foot for about 16 km (10 mi) from its beginning near the Baths of Caracalla.
Many parts of the original road beyond Rome's environs have been preserved, and some are now used by cars (for example, in the area of Velletri). The road inspires the last movement of Ottorino Respighi's Pini di Roma. To this day the Via Appia contains the longest stretch of straight road in Europe, totaling 62 km (39 mi).
Monuments along the Via Appia
1st to 4th mile
Porta Appia (Porta San Sebastiano), the gate of the Aurelian Walls
Church of Domine Quo Vadis
Tomb of Priscilla
Catacomb of Callixtus
San Sebastiano fuori le mura
Catacombs of St Sebastian
Vigna Randanini Jewish catacombs
Circus of Maxentius
Tomb of Caecilia Metella
Roman baths of Capo di Bove
Tomb of Hilarus Fuscus
5th mile
Mausoleum of the Orazi and Curiazi
Villa dei Quintili, with nympheum, theatre, and baths
Mausoleum of Casal Rotondo
6th mile and beyond
Minucia tomb
Torre Selce
Temple of Hercules
Berrettia di Prete (tomb and later church)
Mausoleum of Gallienus
Tres Tabernae
Roman bridges along the road
There are the remains of several Roman bridges along the road, including the Ponte di Tre Ponti, Ponte di Vigna Capoccio, Viadotta di Valle Ariccia, Ponte Alto and Ponte Antico.
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