Dating back to the fourth century BCE, the Via Appia is the oldest and most prestigious of Roman roads. The regina viarum—queen of all roads—was named after the Roman censor Appius Claudius, who completed its first stretch toward Campania and the south. The road became a gateway to Italy and eventually the entire Roman Empire, and it defined Rome's urban development and city planning for centuries. Our tour, led by an expert guide, explores the importance of the Appian Way as well as the meaning and function of the monuments along its path.

Please Note: This tour includes a car service that will pick you up at your accommodation. Please tell us your hotel or apartment address in the 'Additional Details' box when adding the tour to your shopping cart.

We begin at the Baths of Caracalla, constructed along a stretch of the Appian Way in 221 CE. In addition to its architectural splendor, this complex gives us a chance to discuss the use of baths as a social and political tool for Roman citizens. We'll then take a private car to the Appian Way itself and stroll along the road for the remainder of our itinerary.

The building of temples, altars, arches, tombs, and other public structures along the sides of the road contribute to the monumental transformation of the Via Appia. Becoming more opulent as time passed, they give us a good sense of how the Roman elite expressed their social and political status. We may visit the Mausoleum of Cecilia Metella, built for the daughter of a wealthy Roman patrician, or the Circus of Maxentius, which once contained the obelisk now in Piazza Navona—a site visited on our Rome Night Tour. 

At the end of our time together we will come away with a better understanding of Roman urban planning and how the city presented itself to incoming visitors.

No, you will meet your guide and driver at your accommodation in Rome and proceed together from there. Please let us know your hotel details so we can confirm the service for you.

No, the tour is not physically demanding. However, the terrain can be uneven and the tour is therefore not completely wheelchair accessible. Please contact us if you're interested in adapting the tour for travelers with limited mobility.