The ancient Roman Appian Way has been added to the UNESCO world heritage list, becoming Italy’s 60th recognized site and further enriching the country’s cultural legacy.
The 800-kilometer road, which is also known as the “Via Appia”, was built by the Romans from 312 BC, and eventually connected the capital Rome to the port of Brindisi in the south.
It became a key conduit that allowed Roman armies to travel quickly in all weather, helping them conquer new lands easily, and, showcasing innovative engineering techniques, serving both military and civilian purposes.
Italy’s Culture Ministry successfully led the effort to add the ancient road to the coveted list, with the decision announced at a session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee in New Delhi, India.
“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.”
The road quickly became a vital route for trade and cultural exchange, eventually serving as the blueprint for all future Roman public roads.
The initial 17 km of the cobblestone road is today preserved within Rome’s Appia Antica archaeological park.
The Appian Way joins iconic Italian locations on the list, including Rome, Florence, and Venice.
Italy’s Culture Minister Gennaro Sangiuliano hailed the inclusion of the road as recognition of “the value of our history and identity”, while Rome’s Mayor Roberto Gualtieri called the path “the symbol of an entire civilization”.
“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 Sangiuliano.
