Via Appia

The Via Appia was the most important ancient Roman road. The via Appia was the paradigm of all subsequent Roman roads. It was the very symbol of the republic, which brought order to the terrain and peace and freedom to the peoples of Italy, at least in their ideals. It was so crowded with tombs and other monuments that some of them were built behind the first line and now are in the fields to the sides of Via Appia.