Via Appia Antica & Catacombs of Rome

The Roman Appian Way, famous paved road of ancient Rome

The Via Appia Antica, or Roman Appian Way is the ancient paved road of Rome and served as an important access road into the city. There are many catacombs around the Via Appia like the Catacombs of San Callisto.

The oldest road of Rome 'Via Appia Antica'

The Via Appia Antica or Appian Way is one of the oldest roads of Rome and served as an important access road into the city. Originally, the road ran all the way to Brundisium, present-day Brindisi in the heel of Italy. The cobbled road was named after consul Appius Claudius Caecus who commissioned its construction in 312 BCE. The main goal back then was to move troops more quickly during the Second Samnite War, but also to facilitate day-to-day transport of goods between Rome and Campania.

The paved stone road is nicknamed ‘regina viarium’; queen of the roads. That is because of how important the road was, but also because of the beauty of the landscape the Via Appia traverses. Part of the road (starting at the Cecelia Metella funerary monument) still has the old paving stones that clearly show the wear of the carriage tracks. The Via Appia Antica has an almost romantic feel with the green cypresses and many ruins that line the cobblestone way.

^{Via Appia, famous paved road of ancient Rome}

^{Start of Via Appia at Porta San Sebastiano}

Sights & Catacombs around the Appian Way Rome

During a trip along the Appia Way, you can come across the following interesting sights:

• In Rome, the Via Appia starts at the Porta San Sebastiano. The first milestone can be seen to your right, now part of a wall. These milestones do not just mention the distances and destinations, but also the main person who ordered its construction.
• A little further and you will see the church ‘Domine Quo Vadis’. Tradition has it that Jesus once met Peter here. Peter was fleeing Rome at the time, but returned after he met with Jesus. The church even has a stone that is purported to hold Jesus' footprint.
• After that you will come across a number of catacombs and tombs. Because it was forbidden to bury the dead within the city walls in Roman times, several burial sites were built along the main roads. The most impressive of these subterranean burial sites (Catacombs of San Callisto) can be visited with this tour; it holds over 170,000 graves. Another well-known catacomb is that of Saint Sebastian, which can be reached through the church Basilica di San Sebastiano (Book your tour). This is one of the seven important pilgrimage churches of Rome.

• After about two kilometres, you will reach the best-preserved stretch of the Via Appia Antica. Here you can also see the remains of the Circus of Maxentius, an ancient racetrack. The obelisk that originally stood in front of the circus was moved to Piazza Navona.
• From this spot, you see an increasing number of tombs, probably because they were cheaper the farther they were from the city. The most famous and largest of the tombs is that of Cecilia Metella, about five kilometres outside the city. She was the daughter of an important general under emperor Caesar. The tomb is closed on Mondays.
• If you go even further, you will find Villa Quintili. It used to be a very luxurious villa and residence for emperor Commodus who preferred a quiet life in the countryside. This villa is closed on Mondays.

^{Tomb of Cecilia Metella}

^{Basilica di San Sebastiano}

Video: Via Appia from the sky

Where is the Appian Way located in Rome?

The starting point for a visit to Via Appia is the Porta San Sebastiano. From here you travel further and further from the center of Rome.