Italians in old roads. The Appian Way is the most significant road of Ancient Rome. Tombs of the Appian Way

Appia Antica (Old Appian Way) was once one of the most important and famous roads world, as it led from Rome to the farthest ends of the Roman Empire. The Appian Way was built in 312 BC, being the brainchild of Appius Claudius Caecus. The Roman military leader was known for organizing mass public works, thanks to which it was possible to bring the life of the Romans to a completely new level. It was the Appian Way that became the most famous project statesman, connecting Rome with the port city of Brindisi.

Construction history

The road began to be built with the laying of clay, on which rubble and small stones were then laid. Then the whole thing was covered with a final layer of gravel, and a final laying of stone tiles, providing a flat surface for comfortable driving on the road. Historians say that the stones fit together so well that even a knife blade could not be inserted between them. On both sides of the road, ditches were dug to drain the water, supported by retaining walls.

The Appian Way with a total length of 560 kilometers began at the Circus Maximus, passing along the Baths of Caracalla and the Aurelian Wall. Tombs were built along the road near Rome prominent people. Leaving the city, the road passed through an affluent suburb, passing through the Appian Mountains and the Marshes of Pontius to Terracina, a coastal town 56 kilometers south of Rome. From there the Way of Appia followed along west coast, ending in Capua. The total length of the road at this point was 210 km. This road served its purpose well, helping the Roman army to quickly move military supplies. This contributed to several outstanding victories for the army.

In 295 BC. the road was extended to Benevento, and over the next 5 years to Venosa and Taranto. Ultimately, the Appian Way ran to the port city of Brindisi on the southern coast of Italy. Its total length from Rome was 560 kilometers.

Monuments along the Appian Way

Since it was forbidden to bury the dead within the city, many were buried along the roads leading from Rome. important people built tombs along the roads for themselves and their entire family. Sometimes these graves were so large that they reached the size of a house. Their forms ranged from hills or pyramids to small temples. Numerous such monuments were erected along the Appian Way, and many of them are still visible today.

The most outstanding of the tombs is considered to be the well-preserved tomb of Caecilia Metellus, the wife of one of the generals of Julius Caesar. The tomb is more like a well-defended fortress. Other outstanding monuments include the tomb of Mark Servilius, the Roman general Sextus Pompeius, the philosopher Seneca and many others. Special attention It is worth paying attention to the tomb of the family of Pompeius Sextus, the inscription on which speaks of the grief of a parent who is forced to bury his young children. Emperor Gallienus, who was killed in 268, is also buried along the Appian Way.

Other attractions

Apart from the numerous graves along the road, there are some other monuments along the Appian Way. Highlights include the Temple of Hercules, the Church of Domine Quo Vadis (where the Apostle Peter is said to have met Christ), and the remains of the Gothic church of San Nicola. Villy Quintili with its ancient baths, beautiful fencing and sculptures is located in Nuova next to the road. Nearby is the tomb of Romulus and the Circus Maxentius, a large arena for carriage races. Next to the circus was built a palace created by Emperor Maxentius. The circus was the second largest in the Empire, second only to the Circus Maximus. It is also the best preserved of all Roman circuses.

The Appian Way is famous for the monuments and tombs of ancient Roman families, but many find it more interesting to find what is hidden under the road. Beneath it lies a network of ancient tunnels known as the Roman Catacombs. The early Christians buried their dead underground and held secret church services when necessary. Several catacombs are open to the public, and local priests and monks guide tours. Visitors can see ancient burial niches and some examples of early Christian art.

Excursions along the Appian Way

Today, the Appian Way is a popular attraction in Rome and starts at the Aurelian Wall and the Gate of St. Sebastian. The first part of the road is quite inconvenient for walking. It leads along the church of Quo Vadis, the catacombs of San Callisto and San Sebastiano to the imposing tomb of Cecillia Metella. From here, the road is paved with authentic Roman stones that have survived to this day. The tour covers many kilometers, covering the remains of numerous historical graves and other monuments.

Appian Way in Rome (Italy) - description, history, location. Exact address, phone number, website. Reviews of tourists, photos and videos.

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The Appian Way is, if translated into modern language, the first ancient pedestrian and horse-drawn expressway. At one time, it connected Rome with the farthest part of the Apennine Peninsula, and today it is a universally recognized landmark of Italy.

Peculiarities

The quality of this road was amazing for its time, and even one of the ancient Roman writers noted its solidity, the fitting of one cobblestone to another. Along this "queen of the roads" the Romans after some time began to place their richly decorated tombs, which was considered prestigious.

It was used by the Romans for trade and military campaigns, later by Christians for pilgrimages to the holy places of Rome, but in the 19th century. the road fell into final decline, oblivion overtook it. Interestingly, at the 7th kilometer it was crossed by a modern highway, so this section of the road was seriously damaged.

Modernity

Today, a regional park is located on one of the sections of the road, and the road itself has the status of a state one. Excursions along this route will help you get to know its history and many modern and ancient buildings in more detail.

Today, the Appian Way is a state road - (Strada Statale 7 Via Appia), partially paved, but sections of the road with antique coating, in places with ruts, knocked out wheels of wagons and chariots, have been preserved. The entire territory of the Appian Way Regional Park is closed to traffic on weekends and holidays.

Notable places and museums

Museum at the Gates of St. Sebastian (via di Porta San Sebastiano) - the largest and best preserved city gate of ancient Rome, which is also part of the Aurelian wall.

The catacombs of St. Callistus (Via Appia Antica, 110) are one of the largest Christian catacombs in Rome, burials in which date back to the 2nd-4th centuries. Contain many frescoes and inscriptions testifying to the life and death of members of the Christian community of Rome in the first centuries new era. Admission fee 8 EUR, children 5 EUR. Opening hours: 9:00-12:00 and 14:00-17:00.

appian way

Basilica of St. Sebastian and the catacombs (via Appia Antica, 132-136). Opening hours: Monday to Saturday, 10:00-17:00. Closed on Sunday. How to get there: from the metro San Giovanni by bus 218. The visit is only possible with a guided tour; a full ticket costs 8 EUR, a child ticket costs 5 EUR.

Circus Maxentius, mausoleum of Romulus (Via Appia Antica, 153).

The tomb of Cecilia Metella and the fortress of Caetani (via Appia Antica, 161) is a monumental round structure that was built around 50 BC. e. for Caecilia Metella, daughter of the consul Quintus Caelius Metella Cretica.

Quintilian Villa and aqueduct (via Appia Nuova, 1092).

Hypogeum of Vibia (via Appia Antica, 103).

The Judean catacombs of Vigna Randanini (Via Appia Pignatelli, 4) and other attractions.

Prices on the page are for April 2019.

The Appian Way (Via Appia) is the "highway" of ancient times connecting Rome with Brundisium (lat. Brundisium). Cobbled path 540 km long appeared in the 4th century BC. in order to connect the capital of the Roman Empire with strategically important neighbors: Greece, Egypt, Asia.

As the chronicle “History from the founding of the city” testifies, the main part of the road was built during 312 BC. Its occurrence is recorded in the track record of the censor (high official) of Rome - Appius Caecus (lat. Appius Caecus).

Previously, there was an equipped highway that allows you to get from Rome to Calvi (lat. Calvi). Appius planned to make a larger reconstruction of the roads, for which he spent a large part of the treasury. Historical chronicles testified that the builders had to carefully plan the hilly terrain. Then, the compacted soil was covered with hewn layers of volcanic basalt.

Construction stages

In 312 BC the first part of the Appian Way was built - a 195 km long segment leading to Capua(Capua). The new path served primarily military purposes. The protracted war between the Romans and the Samnites required decisive action on the part of the rulers of Rome.

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In the 3rd century BC. Appius acquired the status of a dictator. The Roman ruler decided to strengthen the position of the state in the Campania region. To this end, the Appian Way was extended to Beneventum (lat. Beneventum).

In the 2nd century BC. The Romans decided to break through the shortest route to the Balkan Peninsula. By extending the Appian Way from Beneventum to Brundisium, Rome received direct access to the Egnatian Way (lat. Via Egnatia), leading to the countries of the East. Thus, the economic position of the empire was strengthened.

Value

Initially, the Appian Way served for the benefit of the military, then it acquired economic and cultural aspects. According to contemporaries new way acquired the unspoken name "Queen of the Roads".

The ribbon paved with stones, framed by umbrella pines, survived the legendary Rome. Its significance was noted by the Byzantine emperors, the head of the Ostrogoths Theodoric the Great (German: Theoderich der Große) and all the rulers who dominated Rome until the Middle Ages. Then, the "ancient way" was left at the mercy of pilgrims traveling to holy places.

It is noteworthy that one of the branches of the Catacombs of Rome (Catacombe di Roma) runs along the Appian Way. Early Christian martyrs and pontiffs found their rest in underground caves near the main road. Numerous monuments created during the time of the Roman state were destroyed over time, reconstructed or served as a source of free building materials.

In the late Middle Ages, the Appian Way, in fact, lost its functions, it was partially dismantled, and for the most part covered with a new roadbed. Extensive excavations took place in the vicinity of the historic route in the 18th and 19th centuries. Ancient artifacts scattered into hundreds of private collections and museums.

Route

The Appian Way began its countdown from the Capena Gate (lat. Porta Capena) in Rome, which at the present time is almost completely destroyed.

First locality abroad (lat. Mura Aureliane) is the town of Ariccia. A milestone marking 88 km of the route is a city in the Lazio region - (Terracina). Then follow: Fondi (Fondi) and Formia (Formia), standing at 142 kilometers of the "Queen of the Roads". Minturno and Sinuessa (now: Mondragone) are intermediate cities on the way to Capua (now: Santa Maria Capua Vetere) in the Campania region.

The map of the Appian Way was extended due to the way to Benevento (Benevento), Venusia (Venosa), Tarentum (lat. Tarentum), Uria (lat. Uria). The final point of the route (540 km) is in the port city of Brindisi in the Apulia region (Puglia). Horse riding from Rome to Brundisium was about 15 days!

Monuments

The Appian Way received a peculiar marking of one Roman mile (1478 m). Pillars (lat. colonna miliaria) with commemorative plaques in honor of the emperors who ruled in Rome were used as milestones. In our time, you can only look at the pillar of the 1st mile and the pillar symbolizing the end of the journey in Brindisi.

According to the Law of 12 tables, adopted in Rome in 450 BC. It was forbidden to bury the dead within the capital.

Until the 2nd century BC columbariums (lat. columbarium) of rich families were built along the paving stones, in which urns with ashes were stored. Subsequently, the tradition of burning the dead was transformed into funeral ceremonies. Thus, entire necropolises began to appear in underground tufa caves. Tombs deserve special attention, which sometimes have very impressive dimensions and intricate shapes.

First mile

Tomb of the Scipios (lat. Sepulcrum Scipionum) belonged to an influential Roman family. Appeared among the first tombs in the 3rd century. BC. Again saw the white light in the 18th century, several elements migrated from the tomb to the Vatican Museums.
The crypt of Pomponius Hyla (lat. Pomponius Hylas) is modest in size and belonged to the emperor's freedman Pomponius and his family.
Gate of St. Sebastian (lat. Porta San Sebastiano), in the past - the Appian Gate (lat. Porta Appia) were built in the 3rd century. AD ruler Aurelian. In the 5th century, a simple arch was decorated with a superstructure in the form of two towers with crenellations. The Museum of the Wall (Museo della Mura) operates inside the gate, opening hours: Tue-Sun from 9:00 to 14:00, admission is free.
Official site: www.en.museodellelmuraroma.it

The first milestone column was installed 100 m from the Appian Gates. The authentic pillar is located on the Capitol Square, a copy of it is installed by the road.
The Tomb of Priscilla (lat. Sepulcrum Priscilla) was built during the time of Emperor Domitian (Titus Flavius Domitianus) for the wife of the freedman Flavius Abascantus. A large rectangular building in the past was richly decorated, finished with travertine. In the Middle Ages, an observation tower was equipped over the ancient catacombs of Priscilla.

Domine Quo Vadis Church (lat. Domine quo vadis?), the real name is Santa Maria in Palmis. humble sanctuary located in a wonderful place where Jesus Christ appeared to the apostle Peter. By this time, the soldiers had burned all the Christians of the capital with fire and sword. To Peter's question: "Where are you going, Lord?" Jesus replied, "I'm going to Rome for the second crucifixion." Peter fell at the feet of the son of God and directed his steps to Rome, where he was captured and died a martyr's death. The church has a plate with footprints of Jesus.

second mile

Catacombs of San Callisto- extensive early Christian catacombs of the 2nd-4th centuries AD. Working hours: from 9:00 to 12:00 and from 14:00 to 17:00. Ticket price: 8 euros - full, 5 euros - preferential, children under 6 years old - free of charge.
Official site: www.catacombe.roma.it
The Pius IX Column is a gray stone stele by Luigi Canina.
Catacombs of Saint Sebastian, in the past just "catacombs" - lat. ad catacumbas. Early Christian burials located under the Basilica of San Sebastiano (Basilica San Sebastiano). Opening hours: Mon-Sat from 10:00 to 17:00. Ticket price: 8 euros - full, 5 euros - preferential, children under 6 years old - free of charge.
Official site: www.catacombe.org

Tomb of Romulus (lat. Sepulcrum Romulus) and Circus Maxentius (Circo di Massenzio) were built in the 4th century AD. in honor of the son and father, ruler Maxentius. The ruins are a museum, admission is free, opening hours: Tue-Sun from 10:00 to 16:00.
Official site: www.en.villadimassenzio.it
The tomb of Caecilia Metella (lat. Sepulcrum Caecilia Metella) arose in the 1st century BC to become the last refuge for Caecilia, the daughter of Quintus Metella (Quintus Metellus), the Roman consul. A large building: a round tower 30 m in diameter and 11 m high, in the 13th century it received a fortification look.

third mile

The ruins of the Church of Sant Nicola a Capo di Bove are located near the walls of the tomb of Cecilia. The building of the 14th century served as a rare example of classical Gothic.
The basalt pavement is well preserved in this area., you can find out what the Appian Way looked like in its original form.
The tomb of Mark Servilius (lat. Sepulcrum Marcus Servilius) is an ancient crypt, decorated with reliefs, the facade of which was restored in the 19th century by Antonio Cannova.

fourth mile

Tomb of the sons of Sextus Pompey (lat. Sepulcrum Sextus Pompeus)- built by Sextus Pompey for his early departed sons. The grief of the father spilled out in verses painted on the wall of the tomb.
Tomb of Saint Urban keeps the rest of the Roman bishop from the 4th century AD.

The tomb of Hilarus Fuscus (Sepolcro di Hilarus Fuscus) has suffered from time. Thanks to the efforts of Luigi Canina, one can see the wall of the building, decorated with a relief plaque depicting the Fusca family.
The cenotaph of Anna Regilla (Cenotaph Annia Regilla) - a noblewoman who lived in Rome in the 2nd century AD, made of brick.
The pyramidal tomb is interesting for its unusual shape reminiscent of the Egyptian pyramids.

Tomb of the Rabirii (lat. Sepulcrum Rabirii) was also restored by Kanina. The architect restored from the parts found during excavations the relief that adorns the facade of the tomb: the image of Gaius Rabiria and his wife.

fifth mile

Tomb of the Curiacii (lat. Sepulcrum Curiacii) has an elongated cylindrical shape, located on a high hill near the Appian Way. Once in this area there was a battle between the Roman family of Horatii and Curiatii.
(Villa dei Quintili) was erected in the first half of the 2nd century by the brothers Kondin and Massimo Quintili. The wealth and success of the Quintilians aroused envy in the emperor Commodus, who executed the brothers and confiscated their mansion. The villa was rebuilt and expanded, turning into one of the residences of the emperor. The statues discovered during the excavations of the villa were moved to the Vatican, Louvre and Monaco museums.

Casal Rotondo- a rounded squat tomb, dating from the times of the Roman Republic. It is believed that it served as a tomb for Messalo Corvino, a high Roman official of the 1st century BC. BC. Currently, a rural house, decorated with green spaces, has been built on its basis.

Mile 6 - Brindisi

Along the 6th mile of the Appian Way there are monuments and tombs made in the form of rectangular monuments of basalt, tuff and brick.

At around 7 miles, the traveler will be close to Ciampino airport (distance - less than a kilometer). The most notable archaeological remains of the rest of the famous route are the remains of the Temple of Jupiter Anskur (lat. Jupiter Anxur), located in Terracina.

Modern life

In 1988, part of the territory of Rome, along with the Appian Way, acquired the status archaeological park(Parco Regionale Della'Appia Antica). Most of the old tract is already covered with asphalt, however, the strongest fragments of the roadway have been preserved in their original form. On weekends and holidays, traffic on the historical path is prohibited.

In art

The Appian Way looks so extraordinary that it managed to make a big impression on the painters. The most ancient engravings of Giovanni Piranesi (Giovanni Piranesi) of the 18th century. The Tretyakov Gallery exhibited the painting "Appian Way at sunset", the author - Russian artist of the 19th century Alexander Ivanov. The surroundings of Via Appia turned out to be no less picturesque to the American John Chapman, who painted a cycle of 10 canvases at the end of the 19th century.

The Italian composer of the 20th century, Ottorino Respighi, wrote the grandiose piece of music The Pines of Rome in 1924 to be performed by a symphony orchestra. No less talented conductor Herbert von Karajan (Herbert von Karajan) embodied this work within the walls of famous concert halls around the world. Particularly dramatic and disturbing is the part of the concert called "The Pines of the Appian Way".

How to get there?

The easiest way to get to the Appian Way is from the walls (Colosseo). The route of travel is as follows: south along Via Celio Vibenna and Via di San Gregorio - turn southeast to Piazza di Porta Capena (the Capena Gate once stood here). Then along Viale delle Terme di Caracalla and following the southeast direction, continue along Via di Porta San Sebastiano. A narrow old street gradually replaces the asphalt with the long-awaited paving stones, the gates of St. Sebastian will mark the beginning of Via Appia Antica.

Official website of the Appian Way: www.parcoappiaantica.it

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The Appian Way is a strategically important route for ancient Rome. In the 4th century BC, a 540 km long road was built to connect the Roman Empire with Greece, Asia and other countries. She was a real innovation of her time, as she was the first - if you say on modern language- fast track. Ancient writers distinguished its accuracy, speaking of the fit of the cobblestones to each other. Over time, rich people began to build tombs near it, which was considered prestigious, and now it is recognized as a landmark of Italy.

Construction history

In 312 BC. completed the first part of the Appian Way in Rome. It led to Capua and was used mainly for military purposes. In the III century BC. e., in order to strengthen his position in the Campania region, the ruler Appius extended the road to Beneventum. And in the II century BC. e. to make the most shortcut to the Balkans, the Appian Way was completed to Brundisium. This gave access to the Via Egnatius, and from there to the East.

Value

At first, only the military used it, but over time, the Appian Way acquired economic and cultural significance. She was even given the name "Queen of the Roads." Her beauty was noted not only by Roman poets, but also by the emperors of Byzantium and Rome itself. Also along it is one of the branches of the underground catacombs.

It lost its significance already in the late Middle Ages, when it was either dismantled or covered with a new layer. In the XVIII-XIX centuries, excavations were carried out around it for private collections and museums.

In modern world

A regional park is located on one of its sections, and the road has acquired state status. Guided tours are conducted along it in order to acquaint tourists with the adjacent monuments and museums. But it is not the only reason attracting visitors. The Appian Way is beautiful in itself. Umbrella pines frame the stone ribbon, but the most breathtaking sight is the Appian Way at sunset.

If you are in Rome, be sure to visit it at this time of day. But guess right on the day of your visit: on weekends and holidays it is closed, otherwise you will not be able to admire the beautiful view.

Monuments

The road was marked with one Roman mile, and the end of each was marked by a pillar with a tablet engraved with the name of the reigning emperor. Unfortunately, only the pillar at the first mile (copy) and the pillar marking the end of the journey to Brindisi have survived to this day.

Until the 2nd century BC. e. columbariums of the wealthy families of Rome lined up along, where the ashes of their relatives were kept. And later, when the burning ritual turned into a burial ritual, entire necropolises began to line up.

For first miles you will meet the tombs of Priscilla and Scipio, which belonged to the once influential family of Rome, the crypt of Pomponius Gila, as well as the gates of St. Sebastian.

Second a mile can amaze with the catacombs of St. Callistus and St. Sebastian, the tombs of Romulus and Caecili Metella.

On third a mile away are the tomb of Mark Servilius, a basalt pavement and the ruins of a church.

4th a mile much more built up than the previous one. On it are the tombs of St. Urban, Rabiriev and Ilarius Fusca, the cenotaph of Anna Regilla and the pyramidal tomb.

On fifth miles - the tomb of the Curiatii and the villa of the Kventilii.

For sixth miles of rectangular monuments of basalt or tuff are located.

seventh mile is close to the airport. The most notable here is the Temple of Jupiter Anskur.

How to get to the Appian Way?

The easiest way to do this is from the Colosseum. Go south on Via Celio Vibenna, then southeast to Piazza di Porta Capena. Continuing to follow the same direction, go along Viale delle Terme di Caracalla. Soon the asphalt will be replaced by paving stones, and the gates of St. Sebastian will mark the beginning of the Appian Way.

How was the road built?

The construction of the Appian Way took place in several stages from the end of the 4th to the middle of the 2nd century BC. Its initiator is considered to be the Roman censor Appius Claudius Caecus, in 312 BC. e. ordered to build a road to Capua. But there is another version, according to which the beginning of the road was laid before him, Appius only gave it the right direction and paved it with high quality. The event was described in some detail in the historical writings of Titus Livius.

4th century BC e. - a 195-kilometer stretch from Rome to Capua was laid.
3rd century BC e. - the next section was built, connecting Capua with Benevent.
2nd century BC e. - the road through Venusia, Tarentum stretched to Brundisium. Its length began to be more than 570 km.

Having completed the construction, the Romans marked the end of the road by installing 2 majestic marble columns there. One of them can be seen at that place today, it is a landmark of Brindisi (Brundisia). The second fell into late XVI V. and was later donated to the city of Lecce, where it was installed in honor of the deliverance from the plague.

Church of Domine Quo Vadis on the Appian Way

One of the primary reasons for starting the construction of the road was, according to historians, an urgent military need - during the ongoing war between the Romans and the Samnites, it was mainly used by legionnaires. But over time, it also acquired a huge commercial and cultural significance, which began to gradually lose only after the collapse of the Roman Empire. A significant part of the ancient buildings and structures along it were dismantled in the following centuries, and in the 18th century a new road was laid parallel to it.

Features of the road built by Appius

Despite the more than respectable age of the Appian Way, a very significant part of its coverage has been preserved to date. It continued to be used very intensively until the 6th century. AD and even today it is still quite usable. Perhaps because the patrician Appius Claudius, who was responsible for its construction, not only knew his job well, but approached it very responsibly. The city needed a reliable road that could withstand the stresses of wartime, and he got it.

Tomb of Caecilia Metella and fortress of the Caetani family

The Appian road has a multi-layered stone pavement 1 m thick. The upper layer was made up of polished and carefully fitted basalt slabs and cobblestones to each other so that there were no cracks or potholes between them for hundreds of years. According to legend, Appius Claudius, checking the quality of the masonry, tried to insert a dagger blade between the slabs, and if he managed to do this, the road section in this place was dismantled and paved again. Thanks to this, the road turned out to be very smooth, which made it convenient not only for chariots, but also for foot travelers. Moreover, in the middle part, this almost monolithic canvas was made slightly raised, so that the water did not linger on it, immediately flowing down to the shoulders, and the road always remained dry and clean.

Mileposts were placed at equal distances next to the road indicating the distance traveled, places to rest and other useful information for travelers. In the vicinity of the cities between which this road was laid, temples, hotels and taverns were built next to it. In some of its parts, it had (and has) some kind of sidewalk, in some places there are benches for travelers to rest. Its width is a little more than 4 m, so in the old days it allowed two chariots to pass quietly, today - two cars.

Church of Sant Nicola a Capo di Bove

A New History of the Old Appian Way

Today, the Appian Way has the status of a state road; a regional park is located on its territory. It is partly asphalted, but still has areas with well-preserved antique pavement, on which you can see the traces left by ancient wagons and chariots.

For my long history The Appian Way managed to be a warpath, the largest trade artery, the sacred route of pilgrims ... Currently, it has added to this historical luggage the title of a walking, sightseeing and sports route: tourists walk here, sightseeing, sports races, competitions are held. During Olympic Games, held in Rome in 1960, it was here that marathon athletes competed.

On holidays and weekends, this ancient road is closed to traffic, and it is a great pleasure to walk along it. A variety of excursion programs give those who wish the opportunity to get acquainted in detail with the history of the ancient road and the history of numerous structures built along it.

Tomb of Romulus

Memorial sites and tourist attractions

Sightseeing along the Appian Way can take quite a long time, excursion programs are simply incredible variety. Tourist Italy invites you to visit tombs, churches, villas of different historical periods, medieval towers, fortifications, Christian and Jewish catacombs, and other interesting buildings of bygone times.

Burial structures (tombs, mausoleums, columbariums, catacombs) along this road began to appear literally immediately after it was laid. Since, according to the laws then existing in Rome, it was not supposed to be buried in urban areas, these places were considered the most prestigious for burial. One of the most impressive such structures in the vicinity of Rome is considered to be the Mausoleum of Caecilia Metella, dating back to 50 BC. e. Great interest among the burials various kinds also call the tomb of the Scipios, the catacombs of Domitilla, St. Sebastian, St. Callistus, the tomb of Mark Servilius, the mausoleum of Romulus, the columbarium of Pomponius Hyla and many others, since their number here is more than impressive.

Among the numerous country villas built along this road by Roman aristocrats, the villas of the Quintilii, the philosopher Seneca, the emperor Maxentius, and Clodius Pulchra stand out.

Tomb of the Sons of Sextus Pompey

An obligatory stop point for many excursion programs is the church of Domine Quo Vadis. This name corresponds to Art.-Slav. “Where are you coming, Lord?” (Where are you going, Lord?) and is used much more often than official name Church of Santa Maria in Palmis. The reason for this is a legend according to which the church was built on the very spot where the Apostle Peter, who escaped from a Roman prison, met Christ. After asking him the above question, he received the answer: “Where I will be crucified again.” After that, ashamed of his weakness, Peter himself returned to Rome, which he had abandoned, to accept martyrdom. The main attraction of this church is an ancient stone with footprints belonging, according to legend, to Jesus Christ himself.