Via Appia Antica

Italy

History

5 Ancient Roman Roads That Are Still in Use

Via Appia Antica — known in English as the Appian Way — is one of the oldest Roman roads, built to connect Rome to Brindisi (then known as Brundisium) in what's now southern Italy.

The first section dates from 312 BCE, and an additional stretch was added in 244 BCE. The engineering was impressive for the time period: A base layer of heavy stone blocks was cemented together with lime mortar and topped with a smooth layer of basalt blocks that formed a durable surface. The edges of the road were also curved slightly to ensure water would run off. These days, part of this ancient Roman road is protected and forms the Parco dell'Appia Antica — one of the largest urban parks in Europe, located in Rome.

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