Just a little history.....
The Appian Way - to the ancient Romans, the via Appia and "Queen of long roads" - eventually
extended all the way from Rome as far as Brindisi, in Puglia... on the country's eastern,
Adriatic, coast.
The origin intent of the censor Appius Claudius - who, at the end of the C4th BC, took it upon
himself to order its construction across the lonely Pontine marshes and down to ancient Capua
(today's Santa Maria Capua Vetere) - was the conquest of Campania, for the easy and rapid movement
of troops and materiel to areas then held by the Samnites. It achieved its purpose, and still bears
his name.
Later it became one of the empire's principal transport routes, used for all manner of goods.
From the key port of Puteoli (now Pozzuoli) were brought both the almost magical pozzolana (chief
ingredient in the fast-setting, waterproof cement which allowed Rome its habours, aqueuducts and
the massive dome of the Pantheon) and - at times of year when sea conditions permitted - the stream
of grain, from Sicily and Roman territories in north Africa, that fed the majority of the capital's
huge population.
10-NOV-2006
Porta San Sebastiano
The ancient Porta Appia, a towering gateway in the city walls built
in the second half of the third century A.D. by the Emperor Aurelian
24-FEB-2001
View from Porta San Sebastiano
Looking towards where the road runs downhill slightly, following the ancient Clivo di Marte
24-FEB-2001
On the walls of Porta San Sebastiano
24-FEB-2001
Museum of the Walls
Housed inside the Porta San Sebastiano
08-SEP-2000
The enormous Circus of Maxentius
Seats for 10,000 - a view across the 92 metre-wide width of this massive racing circuit...
At one end there were 2 towers with, between them, 12 "pits"... from where
the charioteers would have begun their races up and down its 500 metre length.
08-SEP-2000
Towers, part of the Circus
08-SEP-2000
Tomb of Cecilia Metella
As seen from near the Circus of Maxentius - a good view of the battlements
September 2000
10-NOV-2006
The Tomb of Cecilia Metella
Erected c50 B.C. for the daughter of Q. Cecilius Metellus Creticus, the wife of Marcus Grassus.
The cylindrical structure, faced with travertine and crowned with a marble frieze,
stands on a square base; the battlements are a later addition!
10-NOV-2006
Nymphaeum of the 'Villa dei Quintili'
A bit of a walk from the new terminus, but this is the 'ninfeo' that stands at what may have
been the original entrance to the Villa of the Quintilus brothers, on Via Appia Antica.
Usually the only way to get into the Villa is through the grand gates, a mile or two away,
at Via Appia Nuova 1092, however it's apparently possible - from April to October and only at
weekends and on holidays - to get into the site from here (where the official address is
Via Appia Antica 290)
But I'd suggest phoning first.....
:: Where it doesn't go nowadays... ::
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To reduce the overall length of its route, and hence the time taken to complete the
circuit, these days the Archeobus no longer goes quite as far down the Appia Antica.
It now doesn't pass the Casale Rotondo, nor loop off round the extensive ruins of the
the massive Quintili Brothers' Villa - and, most regretably of all, doesn't let you
get off and walk around at its former terminus in the Park of the Aqueducts.
Regardless of that, those places are all well worth a visit, especially the Villa -
much more of which has recently been opened up to public view...
Click on individual images for a larger version!
