The Appian Way, the regina viarum (queen of all roads), as Statius once wrote, is one of the most ancient and strategically important Roman roads. It was created in the years of the Republic to connect the Eternal City with Brindisi, in Puglia, and the Adriatic Sea.

Named after the censor Appius Claudius Caecus, who was responsible for its ideation, the Via Appia, as we know it in Italy, was incredibly important for the Romans, who called it insignis (distinguished), nobilis (noble) and celeberrima (most illustrious). The greats of modern culture, including Johann Wolfgang Goethe, were fascinated by it, because of the wealth of archaeological mementos along its way.