Appian way in Rome: how to walk the ancient pavement and what to see

The Appian Way begins a couple of kilometers from the Colosseum. You walk along slabs that are more than two thousand years old, between ancient tombs and catacombs. On weekdays cars drive alongside, and on Sundays and holidays the road is closed to vehicles.

Below you will find what to see by mile along the road, how much the catacombs cost, and how to get there by bus 118. The Appia Antica Regional Park covers 4,580 hectares (as of 09/2026, official park website). It is the largest protected green area within the city limits of Rome.

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How the Appian Way was built

💡 In short:

• Appia Antica Park is open 24/7, admission is free.
• A ticket to the Catacombs of Saint Callixtus costs 10 €, closed on Wednesdays (as of 09/2026, official Catacombe di San Callisto website).
• Bus 118 runs from the Colosseum to the Porta San Sebastiano.

Rome needed a straight and reliable road primarily for war. In 312 BC, the censor Appius Claudius Caecus ordered a route to be laid from Rome to Capua (according to Wikipedia). This route became Rome's first paved road and was named after its creator.

© Livioandronico2013 · CC BY-SAPhoto: Livioandronico2013, CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0), Wikimedia Commons

The 195 km Rome to Capua section helped in the war against the Samnites. Later the road was extended to Benevento, and in the second century BC to Brindisi. There it connected with the Via Egnatia, which led east.

It is hard to believe, but you are walking on these same slabs in the same footsteps as Roman legionaries. The network of such roads grew along with the empire. They connected Italy with Gaul, Spain, and North Africa. Merchants appreciated fast delivery of goods over land, not only by sea and rivers.

Construction of the first section proceeded quickly by military standards. The Romans chose a straight line and barely avoided the terrain. On curves the road was widened so that two chariots could pass.

In Byzantine times the road was repaired, and it again served as the main artery. In the Middle Ages trade on it declined, but the flow of pilgrims increased. Pope Gregory III ordered a new surface to be laid.

Later the road suffered from destruction, and the ancient stones were carted off for new construction projects. Some statues and inscriptions ended up in private collections and museums in other countries. Passage along the Old Appian Way was restored by the end of the eighteenth century.

How the road is built

The quality of the Appian Way's surface is still surprising today. The slabs have no potholes or cracks, which quickly appear on modern roads. The stones are fitted together with almost no gaps.

© Radosław Botev · CC BYPhoto: Radosław Botev, CC BY, Wikimedia Commons

The Romans refined this technology over centuries. First they removed the top layer of soil and leveled the base. Then they laid large polygonal slabs, and the roadbed held the weight of carts for centuries.

Along the entire road there were signposts and service buildings. A traveler always knew how far it was to the nearest town. A Roman mile was slightly less than one and a half kilometers.

At regular intervals, milestone stones were placed with the dates of emperors' reigns and distances to settlements. One such first-mile stone has survived to this day. The columns were carved from stone and mounted on massive cubic bases buried in the ground.

Every few miles there were stations for changing horses and overnight stays. Simple stations were distinguished by their red color. A new town often grew up next to them.

The empire also maintained a postal service. Mounted couriers covered more ground in a day than messengers on other roads. Letters and orders reached the farthest provinces.

Because of attacks by bandits, military fortifications were built along the route. Over time many of them turned into fortresses, and soldiers repaired and guarded the roadbed. Granaries and warehouses were kept along the road, from which food was sent to Rome.

Burial within the city limits was forbidden, so necropolises grew up outside the gates. Columbaria, tombs, temples, and mausoleums appeared here. Travelers could pray to Mercury, the god of trade, and Diana, the patroness of roads. Today you see these monuments right by the roadside.

What to see by mile along the road

The sights of the Appian Way are best viewed by mile from the city. In one day you can cover the first and second miles, which is enough for a full walk. Tours along the road are usually tied to specific sections.

© Livioandronico2013 · CC BY-SAPhoto: Livioandronico2013, CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0), Wikimedia Commons

Sights of the first mile:

• Tombs of the Scipios, Geta, and Priscilla.
• Porta San Sebastiano.
• The first milestone.
• Columbaria of Pomponius Hylas and the freedmen of Livia.
• Church of Domine Quo Vadis.

Sights of the second mile:

• Hypogeum of Vibia with ancient frescoes.
• Tombs of Romulus and the freedmen of the Volusii family.
• Catacombs of Saint Callixtus, Vigna Randanini, and Saint Sebastian.
• Circus of Maxentius.
• Column of Pius IX.

Further along the road:

• Capo di Bove tower.
• Heroic relief.
• Christian and Jewish catacombs, crypts of wealthy families, ruins of medieval fortresses.
• Renaissance and Baroque buildings, underground hypogea, and monumental tombs.
• Country villas of Roman aristocrats.

Tickets and opening hours

The park is free; you only pay to enter the catacombs and museums. Both main catacombs are near the second mile of the road. You can only go inside with a guide. Tickets are sold at the ticket office, but it is more convenient to book a fixed-time slot in advance.

At the Catacombs of Saint Sebastian, an adult ticket costs about 10 €. The tour takes roughly half an hour. Children under six enter the Catacombs of Saint Callixtus for free.

Fixed-time tickets are convenient to book in advance: catacombs tours on GetYourGuide.

Location and how to get there

Today the Appian Way is part of the state road Strada Statale 7 Via Appia. Part of it is paved with asphalt, while the ancient paved section is part of the regional park. On Sundays and public holidays, car access is closed here (as of 09/2026, visiting rules). These are exactly the days when it is pleasant to walk and cycle.

The easiest way to get there is by bus 118. It runs from the Colosseum and the Circus Maximus past the Baths of Caracalla straight to Porta San Sebastiano (according to the park's bus information). The Basilica di San Sebastiano stop is about 2 km beyond the gate, near the Catacombs of Saint Sebastian.

By metro, take line B to Colosseo or Circo Massimo station, then transfer to bus 118. Bike rental and the park info point are located at Via Appia Antica, 60, open daily, with a lunch break (as of 09/2026, park bike rental page).

There are almost no streetlights along the road, so plan your walk for daylight hours. Bring water: on the far sections there are no kiosks or cafes.

Appian Way on the map

The paved section runs from the San Sebastiano Gate to the southeast. Below is an interactive park map for planning your route. Open on the map in OpenStreetMap.

⁉️🤔 Frequently asked questions

How much time do you need to walk along the Appian Way?

The first and second miles can be walked in a couple of hours at a relaxed pace. With the catacombs and the Circus of Maxentius, allow half a day. On a bike you can see more in the same amount of time. The farther miles are best left for a separate trip.

Can you walk along the Appian Way for free?

Yes, the park and the paved section are open to everyone around the clock. You only pay for entry to the catacombs, the Circus of Maxentius, and certain museums. Buy a ticket only where you want to go inside.

Where do you go from bus 118?

Get off at the Basilica di San Sebastiano stop if you want to get straight to the catacombs. This stop is about 2 km past the Porta San Sebastiano. If you want to walk the road from the very gates, get off the bus earlier.

What to see first?

The Catacombs of Saint Callixtus and Saint Sebastian, the Porta San Sebastiano, and the Circus of Maxentius. They are on the first two miles. Farther along the road you start to see villas and less crowded tombs, which you can take in at your own pace.

When is the best time to visit?

Best of all on Sundays and holidays, when the road is closed to cars. On weekdays traffic passes nearby and it is less comfortable. Come in the morning to get ahead of tour groups and walk the first mile almost alone.

In short: what to book

If you want to see the highlights in one day, start at the Porta San Sebastiano and the first two miles. For a family with children, a short route to the Circus of Maxentius is easier. Lovers of antiquities should set aside a full day and go as far as the distant villas.

The plan for the day is simple. The Catacombs of Saint Callixtus in the morning, lunch by the road, then the Circus of Maxentius and a walk along the paving stones. A bike will save you time and energy.

If you want to avoid standing in line at the entrance, book a slot in advance: find an Appian Way tour.