Exploring Rome’s Appian Way and the Park of the Aqueducts means walking through time and ancient Rome.
The Appian Way ran from Rome to Brindisi in Puglia
On the outskirts of Rome, history and nature intertwine seamlessly on the ancient Appian Way and its park, the Parco dell'Appia Antica. This sprawling expanse of over 8,000 acres invites visitors to wander through ancient history amidst verdant landscapes, from the rural estates of Tormarancia and Farnesiana to the expansive green of Tor Fiscale and the Caffarella valley.
The park embraces a 16-kilometre stretch of the ancient Appian Way, a road that has borne the weight of history for millennia., and which from Rome ran south ending at Brindisi in Puglia. Visitors can explore this iconic road on foot or by bicycle, as private vehicles are forbidden, ensuring an unspoiled atmosphere where the past feels astonishingly present. 
There are catacombs and aqueducts along the old road
The best starting point is the Porta San Sebastiano gate at the start of the Appian Way, which leads to the imposing Cecilia Metella mausoleum, the evocative ruins of the Circus of Maxentius, and the quiet charm of the Basilica of St. Sebastian, complete with its mysterious catacombs. Nearby, the Villa Quintili and imposing aqueducts stand as testaments to Rome’s architectural prowess.
Fascinating relics of ancient Rome
Nestled within this larger sanctuary the Park of the Aqueducts is on 600 acres and celebrates Rome’s engineering brilliance. The soaring arches and ruins of half of the city’s eleven ancient aqueducts can still be seen on this area, forming a network that takes about two hours to traverse on foot. One of the most interesting monuments is the Villa Vignacce, a residence built by brick-maker Q. Servilius Pudens, whose craftsmanship is immortalized on visible brick stamps - a rarity from that era. Nearby, the Casale di Roma Vecchia, a medieval house-tower, hints at later histories layered upon the ancient foundations. 
The road is marked by centuries of wear and tear
Walking along the narrow, deeply rutted cobblestone roads of the Appian Way, worn down by centuries of footsteps and the passage of carts and chariots, the sensation of the stones beneath your feet is rough and uneven, at times jarring, but always awe-inspiring. A walk on the Appian Way, discovering its monuments and what is left standing of Rome’s ancient aqueducts, is one of those experiences that stays with visitors long after they have left the Eternal City. 
