Appian Way Regional Park

The Via Appia Antica was begun in 312 BC by the censor Appius Claudius Caecus and became one of ancient Rome's most important roads, eventually running all the way to Brindisi on the Adriatic coast. Its first miles out of the city were lined with tombs and monuments, as Roman law forbade burials inside the walls, and early Christians dug catacombs beneath the land on either side. The regional park that protects the road and its surroundings covers about 4,580 hectares, which the park authority describes as the largest urban protected area in Europe.

A walk or bike ride along the old road takes you over stretches of original basalt paving, past ruined tombs, umbrella pines and country villas. The cylindrical tomb of Caecilia Metella is one of the best-known landmarks, and the catacombs of San Callisto and San Sebastiano can be visited on guided tours. The park also includes the Caffarella valley, a green space of around 200 hectares with farmland and small monuments, and further east the Parco degli Acquedotti, where the arches of the Aqua Claudia and other aqueducts stride across open meadows. The Cartiera Latina, a former paper mill, houses the park authority and a small museum of industrial archaeology.

The park makes a welcome contrast to the crowded centre, and a day here feels more like the countryside than a capital city. Cycling is the most efficient way to cover the distances; the park runs a bike hire scheme, and several local operators also hire bikes and lead tours. Walkers should allow plenty of time and wear sturdy shoes, as the old stones are uneven and can be slippery.

Shade is patchy, so bring water and sun protection, especially in summer. Opening times for individual catacombs, monuments and museums vary and some close one day a week, so check them before setting out. The road is open to some traffic in places, so take care on the narrower stretches. It suits active travellers, families with older children who can ride bikes, and anyone with an interest in Roman and early Christian history.

The park authority is based at Via Appia Antica 42 and can be reached on +39 06 512 6314. Bus 118 runs along part of the road from the Circo Massimo area, and the Parco degli Acquedotti is close to Giulio Agricola and Subaugusta stations on Metro Line A.