What is there
to see?

Back then, it was paved with large stones and was wide (about four meters), allowing traffic in both directions simultaneously. Originally, it stretched for over 200 kilometers all the way to Brindisi in southern Italy. Today, along the ancient road, we can visit ancient tombs, catacombs, and villas.

The Museo delle Mura is a part of the Aurelian Walls, located right by the San Sebastian Gate. The museum isn’t large, but it offers the opportunity to climb one of the towers and have a view over the Appia Antica. Admission is free.

On the Appia Antica, you can find some of the most important and well-known catacombs in Rome. Due to space and hygiene reasons, early Christians were buried outside the city walls. These vast underground tombs are now referred to as catacombs. Visiting the Catacombs of Callisto, the Catacombs of Domitilla, or the Catacombs of Saint Sebastian is highly recommended. The Catacombs of Saint Sebastian also house the Church of San Sebastiano fuori le mura, which is one of the seven pilgrimage churches of Rome.

Remember: when visiting the catacombs, shoulders and knees must be covered, as is customary in churches.

In ancient Rome, there were numerous stadiums and theaters, primarily serving as sources of employment and entertainment. Emperors constructed stadiums to boost the economy and, subsequently, provide action and entertainment to the citizens. In addition to gladiator battles, racecourses were also highly popular. You can find one such stadium on the Appia Antica: the Circus of Maxentius. Maxentius was the Roman Emperor from 306 to 312 and was defeated in battle by Constantine the Great. He had a racecourse built.

Similar to the Circus Maximus, the racecourse was divided by a Spina, adorned with an obelisk. However, in 1650, the obelisk was moved to the Piazza Navona upon the request of Bernini, where it is now part of the Fountain of the Four Rivers. The stadium itself could accommodate up to 10,000 people, which may seem relatively small compared to other stadiums (for example, the Stadium of Domitian had space for 30,000, and the Circus Maximus for 250,000). Next to the Circus of Maxentius is the tomb of his son Romulus, who should not be confused with Romulus, the founder of Rome.

Another nearby tomb is the Tomb of Cecilia Metella. As the daughter-in-law of Consul Crassus, who was part of the First Triumvirate with Julius Caesar and Pompey, she was entitled to an impressive tomb as well. Later, the tomb was converted into a defensive tower for the Caetano family. They established a toll booth there and collected money from passing merchants.

In addition to tombs, there are also villas to explore. The Villa dei Quintili, for instance, is a luxurious estate from the 2nd century that will leave you in awe with its incredible size. A visit to the Via Appia Antica is anything but monotonous and dull. It’s the small details of the ruins, the decorative patterns, and sculptures that always demonstrate how skillful and diverse the Romans were in antiquity.

And there are also unexpected encounters: you might even come across sheep and goats grazing in the open spaces, like in the Caffarella Park, which is located near the Appia Antica. 🙂 Along the ancient road, there are also drinking water fountains, restaurants, and aperitivo bars in some places. If you’re unsure whether an e-bike is a good choice for visiting the Appia Antica, you can also rent one on-site. Otherwise, it’s recommended to rent a trekking bike or e-bike in the city center before heading to the Appia Antica.