All roads lead here: from Istanbul it was the 1220km Via Egnatia built in the 2nd century AD due east from the Adriatic port of Dyrrachium (now Durrës in Albania). From here it was a short hop to across the Adriatic to Brindisi, where the Via Appia heads for Rome. The Appian Way provides a pleasant rural stroll out of the city, and is still in good condition, as are Rome’s many familiar ancient sights. Yet however familiar these sights may seem, first-time visitors to Rome today will be just as astonished at the grandeur – the sheer size – of the Classical city as they were when they arrived on the Via Appia 2,000 years ago.
