Appian Way (Via Appia Antica)
Italy
Ride on the "Regina Viarum", the Queen of the Roads - an ancient highway built in the 4th century BC, stretched between Rome and Brindisi (in its initial form, about 538 km long!)
Contents
8 sections · tap a section for its opening lines1Orientation
Welcome to the Via Appia Antica, arguably the most important road in Western history. Known to the ancients as the 'Regina Viarum,' or Queen of Long Roads, this straight line through time was the first and grandest of the Roman…
Listen in the app2Porta San Sebastiano and the Aurelian Walls
Our journey officially begins at the formidable Porta San Sebastiano, the largest and best-preserved gate in the Aurelian Walls. Originally known as the Porta Appia, this massive structure was the main exit for travelers heading…
Listen in the app3The First Milestone and the Almon River
Just a short distance from the gate, we encounter the first milestone of the Appian Way. While the one you see here is a faithful replica (the original is now on the Capitoline Hill), it marks a critical point of measurement. …
Listen in the app4Domine Quo Vadis and the Footprints of Faith
We now reach a small, unassuming church that holds a massive place in Christian tradition: the Church of Santa Maria in Palmis, better known as 'Domine Quo Vadis.' According to the apocryphal Acts of Peter, the Apostle Peter was…
Listen in the app5The Catacombs of San Callisto — Cities of the Dead
As we move further from the city, we encounter the entrance to the Catacombs of San Callisto, the largest and most important of Rome's underground cemeteries. Because burials were forbidden in the city and land was expensive,…
Listen in the app6The Villa of Maxentius and the Imperial Circus
We now come to one of the most expansive ruins on the road: the Villa of Maxentius. Built between 306 and 312 AD, this complex was a 'palace-fortress' for the Emperor Maxentius, the last emperor to make Rome his permanent…
Listen in the app7The Tomb of Cecilia Metella — Fortress of the Dead
This massive drum-shaped structure is the Tomb of Cecilia Metella, the most iconic monument on the Appian Way. Built between 30 and 10 BC, it honors a woman from one of Rome's most powerful families. …
Listen in the app8Closing
As our journey along the first few miles of the Via Appia Antica comes to a close, take a moment to look back at the long, straight line of the road as it disappears into the horizon. We have traveled from the defensive walls of…
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What is Appian Way (Via Appia Antica)?
Appian Way (Via Appia Antica) is a place in Italy with 8 story sections on Tellby. You can read the opening of each section on this page; the sound plays in the app.
| Location | Italy |
|---|---|
| Type | Heritage |
| Story sections | 8 |
| Text language | English |
| Coordinates | 41.8184, 12.5584 |
| Last updated |
