We are planning to walk on the Appian Way on the Sunday of our time we will be in Rome. I think there is no car traffic that day.
We are going from the Piazza Navona area and are wondering what the best way to get to the Appian Way from there is and what would be a good starting point if we want to visit churches and other sites along the way.
Is it only 3.5 miles long? Is there more we might want to see out that way?
Thanks!
Posted by
Colorado Mountains, USA
9399 posts
I’m glad you’re walking, and not trying to cycle along the really rough stones on the roadbed that we attempted, on rented bikes. It was really crowded with pedestrians, too, with swarming busloads of people, so bicycles weren’t very compatible. We took a taxi out to the cafe (recommended by Rick Steves) that rented bikes at the start of our ride, and while it’s probably doable by bus, a taxi got us there directly, without delay or any needed routefinding.
Not really sure how far we went, and we didn’t make it all the way out to the aqueduct at the southern end of the route. After turning in the bikes, we then came back to the Catacombs of San Sebastiano for their last tour of the day, and its basilica. Taxi back to our Airbnb apartment in Rome.
Posted by
Bay Area SF & Uppsala Sweden 🇸🇪
2221 posts
Depending upon where you start, you could go to the Baths of Caracalla & visit the Museum of the Wall, (Museo delle Mura) which we REALLY enjoyed. Taking a taxi back (which the woman at the museum kindly called for us) the views of the Aurelian Wall was amazing! https://www.museodellemuraroma.it/. I did see some bike tours stopping there, but don't know the details.
Posted by
Minnesota 🎒
18544 posts
Is it only 3.5 miles long?
The road was originally 365 miles in length: it's the first 10 that are preserved within the park.
Spending some time with the park's website will be useful:
https://www.parcoappiaantica.it/smart-info-eng/
Here's the map of the park's area:
https://www.parcoappiaantica.it/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Mappa-completa-del-Parco-dellAppia-Antica-ITA.pdf
We started our walk at Casal Rotondo and walked back into central Rome instead of walking out. That starting point was est. 6+ miles out: probably further than maybe you want to take on but we enjoyed the quieter environs very much. People live all along the road so it's never truly traffic free but probably less on Sundays, and less further out.
As you'll see from the map, the section with the aqueducts is some distance from Via Appia Antica (the long, straight yellow line on the map.) We decided to skip that part as we had a long enough walk planned, including Baths of Caracalla, San Giovanni in Laterano, and a couple other churches not far from there so it was a day-long event!
So start as far out as you'd feel comfortable. Take a cab. I think a fair amount of people cover just the stretch between the Tomb of Cecilia Metella and the Port San Sebastiano/Aurelian Walls.
One important note: there is a spur road off the Appia at the Catacomb of S. Sebastiano: Ingresso Catacombe di S. Callisto. You definitely want to take that all the way to the Church of Quo Vadis as that parallel stretch of the Via Appia is not particularly interesting. It's also very busy...although I can't tell you what it's like on a Sunday as we did our walk on a weekday. Anyway, the Catacomb of S. Callisto/Callixtus is along that side spur, and it was a pleasant walk.
Websites for the two catacombs mentioned:
https://www.catacombesancallisto.it/en/index.php
https://catacombe.org/en/
The Villa of Maxentius is near Cecelia Metella and worth a look-see.
https://www.turismoroma.it/en/places/villa-maxentius
https://www.villadimassenzio.it/en
Here's a nice map of monuments and whatnot to be seen along the way. Use it only for historical background and not for attraction hours or any other visiting information that's likely to be outdated as it's been around awhile. Make sure you get the whole thing; numbered sites out to #59. May have to load it twice.
https://www.parcoappiaantica.it/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/via-Appia-Antica_ENG.pdf
Posted by
Bay Area SF & Uppsala Sweden 🇸🇪
2221 posts
Wow, Kate, wonderful, detailed information. Just cut & paste it into my next Rome itinerary, thank you!
Posted by
Minnesota 🎒
18544 posts
Hey there, Sandancisco! Glad you found the post helpful enough to save!
One more interesting site along the way...but it's the other side of Cecilia Metella, and currently closed for restoration.
https://www.turismoroma.it/en/places/capo-di-bove-archaeological-complex
Really, that walk was our favorite day in Rome so far. Next time we'll start even a little further out, jumping on very near Ciampino airport.
Posted by
OP
825 posts
Thanks so much for all this great info! The spur road info seems really important.
Which part of the road feels the oldest, without much in the way of modern things visible, if there is such a part as that?
Posted by
Canada
45 posts
We did an e-bike tour of the Appian Way a few years ago and it was the highlight of our trip. It wasn’t crowded then and there was no issue biking. This year we took the subway to the Aqueduct Park which is part of the Appian Way park and walked around there one afternoon. It was amazing and not many people were there. Rozier Roma has at least one you tube video on walking the Appian Way you might find helpful.
Posted by
Minnesota 🎒
18544 posts
Which part of the road feels the oldest, without much in the way of
modern things visible
The further reaches feel like you're out in the countryside (which you sort of are.) My recommendation is to do a virtual 'walk' via google maps. I do those all the time when a route has been mapped, as this one has. As above, we started our walk out near Casal Rotondo. That point:
Sorry for the long URL. That round ruin on the right side is Casal Rotondo. When doing your 'walk' make sure you're heading in a northernly direction.
Editing to add: the 'spur' road mentioned above (Ingresso Catacombe di S. Callisto) has not been fully mapped but on google maps you will see the little circles all along indicating a photo taken from those spots to get an idea of what the landscape looks like.
Posted by
OP
825 posts
Thank you Kate! I looked up Casal Rotondo in google maps and could not find it. Is there another landmark nearby that I could use to see its whereabouts.
Posted by
Minnesota 🎒
18544 posts
Did you look on the map I'd provided earlier? Look for Via Casal Rotondo (road.) It's just to the west of "Ippodromo delle Capannelle" racetrack.
Google "Via Appia Antica, Rome" and maps. It shows there as "Mausoleo di Casal Rotondo"
Just FYI, the 'casal' can only be seen from the exterior.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Casal_Rotondo
Again, though, you're going to get the best idea of what to expect by doing the virtual 'walk'.
Posted by
OP
825 posts
Yes indeed I did look at the map. I was looking at it on my iphone, and had a bit of a problem reading the small text so I will soon get a chance to look at it on my desk top where I will be able to read the words better.
Thanks for sending the map and other info.
Posted by
Minnesota 🎒
18544 posts
You're welcome. For sure, this is the sort of thing that you really need larger than a phone's screen to get your head around. Oh, and park's map can be zoomed into.