Italy is widely regarded as one of the most popular travel destinations globally. The country is renowned for its stunning vacation spots, ranging from breathtaking coastal sunsets to its rich historical architectural heritage. Few people are aware that Italy also boasts the largest number of UNESCO World Heritage sites in the world. At its 46th session in New Delhi, the World Heritage Committee made a historic decision to include Italy's "Via Appia Regina Viarum" in the prestigious World Heritage List. This addition marks the 60th Italian site to receive this recognition.
The Via Appia Antica, also known as the Appian Way, stands as an iconic symbol of Roman engineering and ingenuity. It was the first and most renowned of the ancient Roman roads, earning the title "Queen of Roads" for its pivotal role in shaping the Roman Empire. Initially connecting Rome with the city of Capua, it was later extended to reach the southern port of Brindisi. Initiated in 312 BCE by the esteemed Roman statesman Appius Claudius Caecus, this road was not only crucial for military purposes but also facilitated significant commercial and cultural exchanges. Its tremendous impact and unparalleled design set the precedent for all future Roman public roads. Roberto Gualtieri, the Mayor of Rome, called the pathway "the symbol of an entire civilisation."
"UNESCO has grasped the exceptional universal value of an extraordinary engineering work that over the centuries has been essential for trade, social and cultural exchanges with the Mediterranean and the East," said Culture Minister Gennaro Sangiuliano at the event. Italy's culture ministry had advocated for the ancient road's addition to the UNESCO heritage list, presenting a convincing case at a session of the World Heritage Committee in Delhi. "This recognition adds to the extraordinary success achieved less than a year ago by Italian opera," commented Undersecretary for Culture with responsibility for UNESCO, Gianmarco Mazzi.
You can explore a stretch of the remarkable cobblestone path within the Appia Antica archaeological park in the south of Rome today. This perfectly preserved 17 km stretch is flanked by remnants of ancient Roman aqueducts and villas. Beneath the path lies an extensive network of catacombs, a historic resting place for Christian converts.
“It was originally conceived as a strategic road for military conquest, advancing towards the East and Asia Minor,” UNESCO said. “The Via Appia later enabled the cities it connected to grow and new settlements emerged, facilitating agricultural production and trade.”