Known as the Regina Viarum, or the Queen of Roads, the Via Appia is one of ancient Rome’s oldest and most important roads, stretching from the capital to the port city of Brindisi.

Constructed in 312 BC, the Via Appia was a marvel of Roman engineering, facilitating military movements and trade, and playing a crucial role in the expansion of the Roman Empire. Until then, the only roads outside ancient Rome were Etruscan and went towards Etruria, which was a region of central Italy. Walking along this ancient road, you are literally following in the footsteps of history, with every stone telling a story of a bygone era.

Today, the first 10 miles (17 km) of the cobblestone path remains and is preserved within the Appia Antica archaeological park in the south of Rome. Popular with history buffs, walkers and cyclists, the perfectly intact road is flanked by what remains of ancient Roman aqueducts and villas. Beneath the path is a sprawling network of catacombs where Christian converts were buried.

The Via Appia’s addition to the UNESCO World Heritage List underscores its significance as a cultural and historical treasure. This recognition honors its past and ensures its preservation for future generations to explore and appreciate.

UNESCO said the road illustrated “the advanced technical skill of Roman engineers in the construction of roads, civil-engineering projects, infrastructure and sweeping land-reclamation works, as well as a vast series of monumental structures including, for example, triumphal arches, baths, amphitheaters and basilicas, aqueducts, canals, bridges, and public fountains”.

Via Appia is the 60^th cultural heritage site in Italy to be added to the list, which includes the historic centers of Rome, Florence, Venice, Pisa and Naples, as well as the five villages of the Cinque Terre and the cave city of Matera in Basilicata.

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On Sunday April 21st, the Roma Appia Run, one of the most fascinating races in Capitoline running, awaits you at the starting line at 9 am from Viale delle Terme di Caracalla to finish at the Stadio Nando Martellini.

Now in its 25th edition, the Roma Appia Run will celebrate its silver anniversary with the Italian Capital, on the very day of Rome’s birthday.

The Roma Appia Run owes its popularity not only to one of the world’s most enthralling tracks, winding its way through the most fascinating wonders of Rome. But also to the fact that it is the only race in the world to be run on five different surfaces, a unique record that no one else in the world can boast: asphalt, cobblestones, lava paving, the unpaved track of the Parco della Caffarella and, finally, the circuit of the Baths of Caracalla stadium.

The Roma Appia Run proposes a total of four races, each aimed at a specific target group:

• the Competitive 13 km (approx. 8 miles), for athletes ready to tackle the difficult race with the aim of achieving a great time and improving on their previous year’s performance – reserved for FIDAL members, CONI-recognized Sports Promotion Bodies and RUN CARD holders, provided they are in compliance with the regulations on health protection in sporting activities;
• the non-competitive 13 km, for ambitious enthusiasts who are not so concerned with chronometric results and are therefore more inclined to a day of open-air sport – open to all;
• the 5 km (approx. 3 miles), on a shorter route for those who just want an unforgettable walk through the heart of Rome’s history – open to all;
• the Fulmine dell’Appia (Lightning of the Appian Way), scheduled for Saturday 20 April and dedicated to children.

Chilometro 42

This year, the event reserves for its members the exceptional opportunity – by free invitation – to participate in the viewing of Chilometro 42, a play that recounts the milestones in the life of Kathrine Switzer, the first woman in history to ever run a marathon. The pièce is accompanied by live music by Munendo, the artist whose musical production combines electronic and classical instruments, 60s and ultra-contemporary sounds. The story of this extraordinary personage initiates a reflection on central themes such as inclusion, recognition and equal rights, and the race becomes a pretext to search for one’s own identity through cracks, crises and ruptures.

Appointment Tuesday 26 March, 9 p.m., at Teatro Cometa Off, via Luca della Robbia 47, Rome. Reservations are compulsory.

Fulmine dell’Appia

One of the moments that children look forward to all year round is the Fulmine dell’Appia, the race that invites them to prove who is the fastest. In past editions, around 1,000 young athletes have competed in the feat, confirming that the organizing committee’s intuition to devise such a small event has proved successful.

On Saturday, 20 April, the eve of the Roma Appia Run, the batteries of the Fulmine dell’Appia will start, with trials over distances from 30 to 100 meters open to all children and young people from 2 to 17 years of age.

The Roma Appia Run is organized by ACSI with the collaboration of ACSI Italia Atletica, ASD Roma Appia Run and ACSI Campidoglio, with the patronage of the Ministero dello Sport, the Regione Lazio, Roma Capitale, CONI, “Sport e Salute”, and the Parco Regionale dell’Appia Antica, Parco Archeologico dell’Appia Antica, and is held under the aegis of Fidal.

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