Do all roads really lead to Rome? The Via Appia Antica (The Appian Way) aka “Regina Viarum” (Queen of Roads) is one of the most famous roads in Europe and is considered to be one of the oldest in Rome. It was named after the Roman censor, Appius Claudius Caecus, who initiated and completed the first 90 kilometers of the road in 312 BC.  In roughly 190 BC, the rest of the road was finished, connecting Rome to Brindisi, one of the largest ports on the eastern coast of Italy.

The primary purpose of this road was to serve as a military road allowing the speedy movement of Roman troops to the south and overpower the Samnites, Ancient Rome’s neighboring regional enemy at the time.  The second was to improve and expedite communication and transport of military supplies and other goods across the country.