The 'Queen of Roads,' begun in 312 BC by Appius Claudius Caecus. Ancient Roman road stretching 350 miles to Brindisi. The first few kilometers outside Rome remain largely intact — original paving stones, ruins of tombs, catacombs, and umbrella pines. Walk or bike it.
Location
Appia Antica, Rome
Map
Insider Intel
Rent a bike at Appia Antica Cafe (Via Appia Antica 175) and cycle the traffic-free section. Visit the Catacombs of San Callisto or San Sebastiano (guided tours only). Walk at least two kilometers to feel the scale and continuity of the ancient paving. The Circus of Maxentius and Tomb of Cecilia Metella are worth stopping for. Bring water and sun protection — shade is limited.
Morning or late afternoon. Sundays when the road is closed to cars (traffic-free zone). Spring and fall for comfortable temperatures. Summer midday is punishing. The road is closed to vehicles on Sundays and holidays from Via delle Terme di Caracalla to Via di Cecilia Metella.
The Appian Way was the first major Roman road, built to move troops quickly during the Samnite Wars. The original paving stones (basoli) are still visible and walkable. Roman law prohibited burials inside the city walls, so the Appian Way became lined with tombs and monuments — the wealthy built elaborate mausoleums. The catacombs (early Christian underground burial chambers) branch off the road. Spartacus and 6,000 followers were crucified along the Appian Way in 71 BC after the failed slave revolt. One of the most historically dense sites in Rome, and the least crowded major sight.