Parco Regionale dell'Appia Antica
Parco Regionale dell'Appia Antica
4.5
About
The Appian Way Tourism Information Centre is open every day (except for the 1st of January and 25th of December) from 9,30 to sunset. It provides tourists assistance, bike rental, guided tours. Bicycle rental: availability of bikes for adults and children, child seats up to 20 Kg, electrical bikes, helmets and locks. We'll be glad to give you all recommendations about sight-seeing, food and all you needs. Hire a bike to take a closer look at the famous Appian Way with the original cobblestones of Roman times. Enjoy your spare time and take the opportunity to see the Roman aqueducts, monuments, catacombs and churches along 15 km to discover the ruins of the most ancient road, the famous Regina Viarum, in a stunning park of more than 4800 hectares.
Duration: More than 3 hours
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Alex J
42 contributions
Sep 2020 • Couples
We didn’t find this information anywhere online before visiting. Arrived at the tourist information centre and the lady there gave us all the info and the map - told us two or three things were closed and where to go and then we walk up to the start point. Gates are locked and there’s a sign that says closed on Wednesdays. Try to replan our route to go around that section, walk back to tourist information and ask and she told us the entire route and everything on it other than one church was closed! Total waste of time. I’m sure it’s good to visit when open but be aware of this!
Written September 9, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hello Traveler,
we're very sorry you couldn't enjoy! Next time make sure to schedule your visit ahead, we have our telephone number : 06 51 35 316 (also WhatsApp), email address (infopointappia@gmail.com) and others social media to get through in case of doubts. After Corona virus, all attractions along the Appian Way are free and open from Thursday to Sunday. The gates you mentioned are the one of S Callixtus (they have just one day off: Wednesdays) that we suggest as a safe road to skip cars and reach the pedestrian area, anyway the Parc is always free and open, even on Wednesdays you could have passed through the Caffarella Valley (as one of us may told you) and reach again the Appian Way safely. Next time get through to us!
I hope to welcome you again to really let you appreciate our Parc
Written September 26, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Robert1969
Colorado Springs, CO44 contributions
Oct 2012 • Couples
This was one of the highlights of our recent one week stay in Rome.
Rather than repeat the praise of other recent reviewers, let me provide some practical information I wish I'd known about before we set off on this excursion:
1. Getting there is a bit of a challenge. Take the Metro to Circo Massimo or (better) to Pirimide and transfer to bus number 118, which departs every half hour or so. The bus stop is about a block away from the Pirimide Metro exit point.
2. Easiest way to do it is to just buy a B.I.G. (daily) ticket at a metro ticket office or at one of the kiosks located around the city - they're good for unlimited day travel on metro, bus, and trams. Otherwise you'll need to purchase separate tickets at every transfer point. Also, the BIG is already time stamped when you buy it so you needn't worry about validating it on the bus.
2. Stay alert for the Appia Antica/Quo Vadis stop, which is about 4 or 5 stops after departing Pirimide. Easy to miss - not well marked. There's a good Information office/park headquarters located immediately in front of you just as you get off the bus. Wasn't signed especially well and we initially walked right past it without realizing it. Started walking down the street marked "Appia Antica" for a few blocks before we realized our error - lots and lots of traffic, to the point of being dangerous for pedestrians. We backtracked to the Info point, purchased the park map (1 Euro), and spoke with the helpful agent who pointed out the correct entrance to the path. They also rent the bikes there which, if you have the time, is an outstanding way to cover the 5-6 miles of road...just need to walk the bikes from the office to the entrance (about a block) to keep from becoming a statistic. Recommend visiting the park website at www.parcoappiaantica.it to familiarize yourself with the layout. The website is in English with a good map provided to help you get your bearings - easy to go off on a tangent unless you know exactly where your going.
3. Once on the "correct" path it's wonderful. Minimal auto traffic until you pass the entrances to several of the catacombs and the Basilica of San Sebastian, after which there's a two block walk back on the main drag before the old road branches off again to the left. After that it's smooth sailing for about 5 miles on one of the prettiest, and certainly the most historic, pathways you'll ever walk. Hardly any vehicle traffic at all.
4. The 118 bus unfortunately doesn't go all the way to the end point of the preserved section of the Appian Way, so you'll need to make your hike an out and back if you want to catch the 118 for a return trip to the metro station. The park map does show some other bus stops just off the Appian Way, and I'm sure you can Google their routes and probably do the walk only one-way, but we didn't have time to sort it all out.
Bottom line is that it's a terrific day out, but do check out the park website to get your bearings before setting off.
Rather than repeat the praise of other recent reviewers, let me provide some practical information I wish I'd known about before we set off on this excursion:
1. Getting there is a bit of a challenge. Take the Metro to Circo Massimo or (better) to Pirimide and transfer to bus number 118, which departs every half hour or so. The bus stop is about a block away from the Pirimide Metro exit point.
2. Easiest way to do it is to just buy a B.I.G. (daily) ticket at a metro ticket office or at one of the kiosks located around the city - they're good for unlimited day travel on metro, bus, and trams. Otherwise you'll need to purchase separate tickets at every transfer point. Also, the BIG is already time stamped when you buy it so you needn't worry about validating it on the bus.
2. Stay alert for the Appia Antica/Quo Vadis stop, which is about 4 or 5 stops after departing Pirimide. Easy to miss - not well marked. There's a good Information office/park headquarters located immediately in front of you just as you get off the bus. Wasn't signed especially well and we initially walked right past it without realizing it. Started walking down the street marked "Appia Antica" for a few blocks before we realized our error - lots and lots of traffic, to the point of being dangerous for pedestrians. We backtracked to the Info point, purchased the park map (1 Euro), and spoke with the helpful agent who pointed out the correct entrance to the path. They also rent the bikes there which, if you have the time, is an outstanding way to cover the 5-6 miles of road...just need to walk the bikes from the office to the entrance (about a block) to keep from becoming a statistic. Recommend visiting the park website at www.parcoappiaantica.it to familiarize yourself with the layout. The website is in English with a good map provided to help you get your bearings - easy to go off on a tangent unless you know exactly where your going.
3. Once on the "correct" path it's wonderful. Minimal auto traffic until you pass the entrances to several of the catacombs and the Basilica of San Sebastian, after which there's a two block walk back on the main drag before the old road branches off again to the left. After that it's smooth sailing for about 5 miles on one of the prettiest, and certainly the most historic, pathways you'll ever walk. Hardly any vehicle traffic at all.
4. The 118 bus unfortunately doesn't go all the way to the end point of the preserved section of the Appian Way, so you'll need to make your hike an out and back if you want to catch the 118 for a return trip to the metro station. The park map does show some other bus stops just off the Appian Way, and I'm sure you can Google their routes and probably do the walk only one-way, but we didn't have time to sort it all out.
Bottom line is that it's a terrific day out, but do check out the park website to get your bearings before setting off.
Written October 30, 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Vincent_de_bruselas
Bruselas, Bélgica1 contribution
DO NOT HIRE THEIR BIKE SERVICES. WORSE CLIENT RELATION EVER. A TOTAL CON.
Below are the data of such bike rental Service. We have been to Roma for a full week in October 2010 and, together with my wife and 2 daughters, we decided to rent bikes to discover the Via Appia Antica. Surfing on the net, we found the Punti Informativi details and it sounded interesting. We phoned to confirm those details and we went the next day to rent bikes and ride along this fantastic via. We got 4 bikes assigned and off we went for the whole day.
My bike’s front axe was completely loose and it made so much noise. After 10 km, we got a puncture on a second bike as well, so we decided to phone to ask for replacements. First, it was a straight NO. Then, after insisting, we finally got a possibility to change 2 of the bikes but had to ride back some 5 km. After replacing the 2 faulty bikes, off we went again. We actually barely reached the initial turn over spot, and a third bike got another puncture. My wife’s bike was so poor that she has had to replace the chain 8 times over our little tour.
When I phone again, I had to dial 15 times to get those chaps on the phone. And they told me that there was no chance that they would replace the bikes again, so I had to turn around and WALK THE WHOLE WAY BACK. We were so upset: the entire day was dedicate to either try to repair or to turn back. No air pump delivered standard as an extra example. When we all arrived at their office, time to tell them that their material was really crap and we hoped that they would at least do a commercial gesture to balance in a way our sinecure. Well, you would not believe how bad we were treated. No way to get a decent discount: they gave us a … 10€ cut. Not my type to really complaint but it was so unfair that I decide to write about this because nothing is worse than bad publicity. Those guys just deserve it. Either adapt and improve or… die. There should not be any room for such a bad business.
Below are the data of such bike rental Service. We have been to Roma for a full week in October 2010 and, together with my wife and 2 daughters, we decided to rent bikes to discover the Via Appia Antica. Surfing on the net, we found the Punti Informativi details and it sounded interesting. We phoned to confirm those details and we went the next day to rent bikes and ride along this fantastic via. We got 4 bikes assigned and off we went for the whole day.
My bike’s front axe was completely loose and it made so much noise. After 10 km, we got a puncture on a second bike as well, so we decided to phone to ask for replacements. First, it was a straight NO. Then, after insisting, we finally got a possibility to change 2 of the bikes but had to ride back some 5 km. After replacing the 2 faulty bikes, off we went again. We actually barely reached the initial turn over spot, and a third bike got another puncture. My wife’s bike was so poor that she has had to replace the chain 8 times over our little tour.
When I phone again, I had to dial 15 times to get those chaps on the phone. And they told me that there was no chance that they would replace the bikes again, so I had to turn around and WALK THE WHOLE WAY BACK. We were so upset: the entire day was dedicate to either try to repair or to turn back. No air pump delivered standard as an extra example. When we all arrived at their office, time to tell them that their material was really crap and we hoped that they would at least do a commercial gesture to balance in a way our sinecure. Well, you would not believe how bad we were treated. No way to get a decent discount: they gave us a … 10€ cut. Not my type to really complaint but it was so unfair that I decide to write about this because nothing is worse than bad publicity. Those guys just deserve it. Either adapt and improve or… die. There should not be any room for such a bad business.
Written November 10, 2010
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dear Vincent,
we remember really well the day you came here with your family to rent the bikes at our place.
Since 2002, when we started to manage the bicycle renting on the Appian Way, this is the first time that we get a bad report and we need to say that we think this was quite excessive considering what is really happened that day.
As you might remember it was a very busy day for our office, that’s why you had to call lots of time to get in touch with us. Anyway we gave you as much support we could: the forester came two times to change the flat tires bikes, then we asked the bar tender at Bar Appia Antica to help with the third bike.
Flat tires are not something that we can control, we know that some bike’s shape is not so good and we’re working constantly to fix the broken bikes, keep them in good condition and buying new bikes to replace the oldest.
This is why you ‘only’ get a 10 euros discount, the bikes didn’t suffer any maintenance problem than could have been caused by our missed care and we offered you all the support we could.
Anyway we are very sorry about your bad experience with us and we’ll wait your next trip to Rome to let you try our newest bikes..
Best Regards, Marco
Written June 1, 2011
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
AllensTravels
Lexington, KY92 contributions
May 2014 • Couples
We set out on our last day in Rome for a bike ride along the Appian way. After consulting with the staff at our hotel and three different taxi drivers we ended up being dropped at the Baths of Caracalla. We walked to the huge intersection at Via Druso and, upon entering cab there, were told by the driver that the Appian Way was just on the other side of the intersection. It was actually the Via Porta San Sebastiano and (thankfully) it was closed to traffic. We walked several kilometers along it until we came to the Appian Way. Sadly (much more on this later!) it was not closed to traffic. We made our way to a bike rental shop where the road splits at the Via Ardeatina and were greeted by a very friendly gentleman who we would get to know well over the next three hours.
We rented our bikes, donned our helmets and began our trek in the footsteps of countless ancient Romans. Roughly a couple hundred yards and just at the top of a nice little hill my chain slipped. We returned to the shop pushing my bike. The kind gentleman promptly repaired it and we were once again on our way in the footsteps of ancient Romans! My wife commented how difficult the small hill was for her and, bike expert that I am, I suggested she change gears. Alas, she could not. Once again back to the bike shop for a quick bike swap then the footsteps, the ancient Romans, and all that.
We biked parallel to the catacombs on the small access road at the catacombs of San Callisto and it was lovely. Open fields, a nice breeze and virtually no traffic. This would soon change.
Upon intersecting with the Appian Way, we were shocked to see bumper-to-bumper traffic, a plethora of tour buses, and a paved road that I can best describe as "giant rocks worn smooth over time, but with gaps in between the stones intended by ancient Roman architects to thwart any bike ridding invaders to the Roman capital. If someone had given the Visigoths a few thousand Schwinns we'd all still be bowing to the Emperor to this day. The road was daunting and treacherous, but I was brave and full of vigor. My first thought was "let's do it!". After another chain slip that I repaired on the side of the road and many fast moving Roman vehicles mere inches from my rented bike, my next thought was "That Rick Steves is full of s#!t!". After another half mile or so and as we attempted to cross to the other side of the street, my third thought was to listen to my wife as she proclaimed that we were going "to die" and declared the bike trip along the Appian way officially at an end.
We pushed our bikes back much of the way. The shame was palpable, yet I was thankful to be alive.
After returning the bikes and buying our requisite souvenir magnet (lest we forget...) we grabbed a beer to go at the café next door, walked back to the Appian Way intersection and caught what looked to be the last remaining cab as the throngs of tourists had long ago departed for lunch.
We had a pleasant chat with the driver (a genial Roman who had been married for thirty years and had driven a cab for thirty five) in route to the Pantheon. There, we tipped him for the long ride and made our way to the trattoria Armando Pantheon. There we took on two courses, dessert, and a bottle of wine- a task which we were much more qualified for than the Via Appia Antica.
Please note that although some attempt at humor has been made in this post two facts need to be clearly stated now:
1. Anyone who planned their outing better than we did, had rode a bike at some point since the Clinton administration, and had no fear of death and/or the act of dying would likely have a much better experience than we did.
2. We really thought we were going to die.
Cheers!
We rented our bikes, donned our helmets and began our trek in the footsteps of countless ancient Romans. Roughly a couple hundred yards and just at the top of a nice little hill my chain slipped. We returned to the shop pushing my bike. The kind gentleman promptly repaired it and we were once again on our way in the footsteps of ancient Romans! My wife commented how difficult the small hill was for her and, bike expert that I am, I suggested she change gears. Alas, she could not. Once again back to the bike shop for a quick bike swap then the footsteps, the ancient Romans, and all that.
We biked parallel to the catacombs on the small access road at the catacombs of San Callisto and it was lovely. Open fields, a nice breeze and virtually no traffic. This would soon change.
Upon intersecting with the Appian Way, we were shocked to see bumper-to-bumper traffic, a plethora of tour buses, and a paved road that I can best describe as "giant rocks worn smooth over time, but with gaps in between the stones intended by ancient Roman architects to thwart any bike ridding invaders to the Roman capital. If someone had given the Visigoths a few thousand Schwinns we'd all still be bowing to the Emperor to this day. The road was daunting and treacherous, but I was brave and full of vigor. My first thought was "let's do it!". After another chain slip that I repaired on the side of the road and many fast moving Roman vehicles mere inches from my rented bike, my next thought was "That Rick Steves is full of s#!t!". After another half mile or so and as we attempted to cross to the other side of the street, my third thought was to listen to my wife as she proclaimed that we were going "to die" and declared the bike trip along the Appian way officially at an end.
We pushed our bikes back much of the way. The shame was palpable, yet I was thankful to be alive.
After returning the bikes and buying our requisite souvenir magnet (lest we forget...) we grabbed a beer to go at the café next door, walked back to the Appian Way intersection and caught what looked to be the last remaining cab as the throngs of tourists had long ago departed for lunch.
We had a pleasant chat with the driver (a genial Roman who had been married for thirty years and had driven a cab for thirty five) in route to the Pantheon. There, we tipped him for the long ride and made our way to the trattoria Armando Pantheon. There we took on two courses, dessert, and a bottle of wine- a task which we were much more qualified for than the Via Appia Antica.
Please note that although some attempt at humor has been made in this post two facts need to be clearly stated now:
1. Anyone who planned their outing better than we did, had rode a bike at some point since the Clinton administration, and had no fear of death and/or the act of dying would likely have a much better experience than we did.
2. We really thought we were going to die.
Cheers!
Written August 1, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Shawn R
Hanover, NH57 contributions
Apr 2017 • Family
Biking the Appian Way was an absolute highlight of our trip to Rome. It can be a little confusing to figure out how to bike it because many guides recommend that you start at a little cafe which is a few miles in and others recommend that you rent bikes at the park office. Either way works, depending on what you want to see, but this was one of our best days in Rome because the scenery is just fantastic and the experience of biking in this setting is awe inspiring.
We actually walked to the park office from center Rome which I strongly discourage because there are sections without side walks and Roman traffice is simply insane chaos. You can take the 118 bus which has a drop off right by Park office, but Roman buses are brutal, always crowded and never on schedule so spring for a taxi on this day if you can (we waited an hour for the bus home despite everything saying they come every 20 mins).
One consideration on how to do this - I would strongly recommend the Museum of the Walls which is nearby and pretty nifty. Its free and you get to walk on a restored section of the Aurelian walls and it provides a lovely view of the Park that you are about to bike. Walking from the museum of the walls to the Park office is a little sketchy due to no sidewalks and the traffice but just grin and bear it, the view is spectacular.
The people at the Park office are very helpful. They will give you a map and tell you the best way to navigate the initial stretch into the park by taking a bypass toward one of the catacombs. This tip is incredibly important, otherwise you die in Roman traffic.
Once you get to the tomb of Cecilia Metella (not more than 1 or 2 km in) there is almost no traffic, and what exists cannot go very fast because the road is in very poor repair. We did not visit either of the catacombs or the tomb of Cecilia Metella (we had seen a lot of ruins by then) and I dont think you need to visit these sites to make the trip worthwhile. The tombs are right on road and very picturesque as you pass them. We stopped frequently to look at the many cool tombs lining the road and took a million pictures of the countryside and did not feel the day was any less fun for not "touring" any of the sites that require entry fees. We rode all the way to outer ring road and got a view of one of the classic acqueducts. If you primarily want to ride and just enjoy the view, renting bikes at the Bar/Cafe just past Cecilia Metella is a good option because the heavily busy touristed sites are between the park entrance and Cecilia Metella. After that its very peaceful. If I did it all over again, I would start at the little cafe and skip the packed early section completely but a lot of people really want to visit the catacombs or Domine Quo Vadis church, which are very near park office.
I would recommend doing this to anybody who is reasonably active (did it with teens and an 11yo who had no problems), its not hard and all the comments about the condition of the road are unnecessary in my view. You can always get off the road and ride on dirt paths in the few rough spots. I would say we covered about 5 or 6 miles out and the same distance back and rode 90% on the appian way. There are no hills and its ruler striaght out and back and you cannot get lost.
Also the comments people make about doing this on Sunday because there are traffic restrictions need to be qualified. If you are walking and sticking to the first part between park entrance and Cecilia Metella (which is VERY heavily touristed) then Sunday is a great option because cars cause traffic jams in this section and kind of ruin it, but if you are biking and you want to see the part past Cecilia Metella, then any day is fine because the traffic is very sparse and cannot go very fast because of the condition of the road.
Again, the views as you get further and further out are truly spectacular and you really feel like you could be Roman centurion marching to Brundisium.
We actually walked to the park office from center Rome which I strongly discourage because there are sections without side walks and Roman traffice is simply insane chaos. You can take the 118 bus which has a drop off right by Park office, but Roman buses are brutal, always crowded and never on schedule so spring for a taxi on this day if you can (we waited an hour for the bus home despite everything saying they come every 20 mins).
One consideration on how to do this - I would strongly recommend the Museum of the Walls which is nearby and pretty nifty. Its free and you get to walk on a restored section of the Aurelian walls and it provides a lovely view of the Park that you are about to bike. Walking from the museum of the walls to the Park office is a little sketchy due to no sidewalks and the traffice but just grin and bear it, the view is spectacular.
The people at the Park office are very helpful. They will give you a map and tell you the best way to navigate the initial stretch into the park by taking a bypass toward one of the catacombs. This tip is incredibly important, otherwise you die in Roman traffic.
Once you get to the tomb of Cecilia Metella (not more than 1 or 2 km in) there is almost no traffic, and what exists cannot go very fast because the road is in very poor repair. We did not visit either of the catacombs or the tomb of Cecilia Metella (we had seen a lot of ruins by then) and I dont think you need to visit these sites to make the trip worthwhile. The tombs are right on road and very picturesque as you pass them. We stopped frequently to look at the many cool tombs lining the road and took a million pictures of the countryside and did not feel the day was any less fun for not "touring" any of the sites that require entry fees. We rode all the way to outer ring road and got a view of one of the classic acqueducts. If you primarily want to ride and just enjoy the view, renting bikes at the Bar/Cafe just past Cecilia Metella is a good option because the heavily busy touristed sites are between the park entrance and Cecilia Metella. After that its very peaceful. If I did it all over again, I would start at the little cafe and skip the packed early section completely but a lot of people really want to visit the catacombs or Domine Quo Vadis church, which are very near park office.
I would recommend doing this to anybody who is reasonably active (did it with teens and an 11yo who had no problems), its not hard and all the comments about the condition of the road are unnecessary in my view. You can always get off the road and ride on dirt paths in the few rough spots. I would say we covered about 5 or 6 miles out and the same distance back and rode 90% on the appian way. There are no hills and its ruler striaght out and back and you cannot get lost.
Also the comments people make about doing this on Sunday because there are traffic restrictions need to be qualified. If you are walking and sticking to the first part between park entrance and Cecilia Metella (which is VERY heavily touristed) then Sunday is a great option because cars cause traffic jams in this section and kind of ruin it, but if you are biking and you want to see the part past Cecilia Metella, then any day is fine because the traffic is very sparse and cannot go very fast because of the condition of the road.
Again, the views as you get further and further out are truly spectacular and you really feel like you could be Roman centurion marching to Brundisium.
Written April 30, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
DCDolcevita
Puerto Vallarta, Mexico555 contributions
If you’re interested in seeing the Appian Way, we have two suggestions for you: take an organized tour and don’t use Archeobus.
There are many interesting things to see on the Appian Way, but it’s extremely poorly organized for tourists. For one thing, each of the attractions is closed on a different day of the week, and many of them are closed from 12-2:30 even on the days they’re supposed to be open. So there’s no way you can see it all.
Second, the road is very treacherous. Even if you had the energy and inclination to walk from one site to the next, you’d be taking your life in your hands. The road, which is not even wide enough to handle the heavy and fast-moving two-way traffic, is lined with tall, unforgiving stone walls. There is no shoulder to speak of.
Third, the road is only one way at points, so you can’t take a bus to, say, the Mausoleum of Cecilia Metella and then go back to the Catacombs of San Callisto. Finally, the Way is very, very long; it’s at least a half hour drive from Cecilia Metella to the awe-inspiring Acquedotti. And of course that's only the touristed part of the Way.
The best things to see are the Catacombs of San Callisto, which are the largest and also the most crowded, and the aqueducts, which are quite a distance away. The other catacombs are interesting, but once you’ve seen one, you’ve seen them all, and the sheer enormity of San Callisto is truly staggering. We understand that Domine Quo Vadis is also worth seeing, but the bus breezed right by that one, without even a hesitation. Both Cecilia Metella and the Villa di Massenzio are closed on Mondays, one of the few days that all the catacombs are open.
The problems with Archeobus, which costs 10 euros (you can buy tickets on board), are that their sound system (they use disposable earphones for announcements) doesn’t work well (probably half the jacks were out of order), the live guides on the bus won’t say or do anything to help you figure the system out (like what channel to turn to), and the stops are only haphazardly announced, if the guide remembers to push the electronic announcement button in time. The bus speeds right past the stops unless people press the bell to stop, but since you don’t know where you are and the stop buzzers are very far and few between, it’s almost impossible to “hop off” when you want to. To make matters worse, there is no bus schedule and the buses only come about every 40 minutes – which is a very long time to wait to “hop on” again – and (they don’t tell you this) the buses go back by a different route than they came, so you can’t start at the end and work your way back. It’s just tough luck if you miss a stop. The bus would be fine if you didn’t intend to get off, and instead just wanted to enjoy a 2 hour ride -- as long as your earphone jack worked.
If you can’t find a guided tour to take you to the main attractions along the Appian Way (try discoverrome.com or carrani.com), then take the 118 bus, a regular city bus that comes a lot more frequently than the Archeobus, and limit your visit to the catacombs.
There are many interesting things to see on the Appian Way, but it’s extremely poorly organized for tourists. For one thing, each of the attractions is closed on a different day of the week, and many of them are closed from 12-2:30 even on the days they’re supposed to be open. So there’s no way you can see it all.
Second, the road is very treacherous. Even if you had the energy and inclination to walk from one site to the next, you’d be taking your life in your hands. The road, which is not even wide enough to handle the heavy and fast-moving two-way traffic, is lined with tall, unforgiving stone walls. There is no shoulder to speak of.
Third, the road is only one way at points, so you can’t take a bus to, say, the Mausoleum of Cecilia Metella and then go back to the Catacombs of San Callisto. Finally, the Way is very, very long; it’s at least a half hour drive from Cecilia Metella to the awe-inspiring Acquedotti. And of course that's only the touristed part of the Way.
The best things to see are the Catacombs of San Callisto, which are the largest and also the most crowded, and the aqueducts, which are quite a distance away. The other catacombs are interesting, but once you’ve seen one, you’ve seen them all, and the sheer enormity of San Callisto is truly staggering. We understand that Domine Quo Vadis is also worth seeing, but the bus breezed right by that one, without even a hesitation. Both Cecilia Metella and the Villa di Massenzio are closed on Mondays, one of the few days that all the catacombs are open.
The problems with Archeobus, which costs 10 euros (you can buy tickets on board), are that their sound system (they use disposable earphones for announcements) doesn’t work well (probably half the jacks were out of order), the live guides on the bus won’t say or do anything to help you figure the system out (like what channel to turn to), and the stops are only haphazardly announced, if the guide remembers to push the electronic announcement button in time. The bus speeds right past the stops unless people press the bell to stop, but since you don’t know where you are and the stop buzzers are very far and few between, it’s almost impossible to “hop off” when you want to. To make matters worse, there is no bus schedule and the buses only come about every 40 minutes – which is a very long time to wait to “hop on” again – and (they don’t tell you this) the buses go back by a different route than they came, so you can’t start at the end and work your way back. It’s just tough luck if you miss a stop. The bus would be fine if you didn’t intend to get off, and instead just wanted to enjoy a 2 hour ride -- as long as your earphone jack worked.
If you can’t find a guided tour to take you to the main attractions along the Appian Way (try discoverrome.com or carrani.com), then take the 118 bus, a regular city bus that comes a lot more frequently than the Archeobus, and limit your visit to the catacombs.
Written September 25, 2007
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Robin_Hitchcock
LONDON25 contributions
Jun 2011 • Friends
A few days earlier, Daniela, the lovely, helpful Palazzetto receptionist, recommended us to take the Archeobus for the Via Appia (Appian Antica) trip. She said that there are fourteen stops along the Archeobus route where one can get off and explore tombs, catacombs, and a well preserved double aqueduct. Although theoretically you can board the bus at any stop and buy a ticket on board, if the bus is already full, you will be out of luck. We decided to go to the Piazza Venetia and get on it there, it being only the second stop after the bus leaves Termini the main station.
The Via Appia was often referred to in ancient Roman times as "longarum regina viarum" -- "queen of highways" -- because it was the first and in many ways the most important of Roman roads. It also was the only road that really led into Rome. I was most interested to read about the history of the Appian Antica. By 312 BC Rome was well under way (but not built in a day! ), and the censor Appius Claudius Caecus started to pave and extend the road and to transform it into the first Roman highway. Curves were straightened, hills were lowered, and valleys were crossed by causeways and bridges. The road began as a level dirt surface upon which mortar and small stones were laid. On top of that, gravel was placed, topped with interlocking stones that would provide a flat surface for those traveling along the 56 km long road. Historians say the stones fit together so well that it was nearly impossible to stick a knife between them.
The first paved section was from Capua (near Naples) to Rome up to 330 miles, but extensions continued to be built, and by 264 BC the Via Appia stretched from Brunduisium (Brindisi, on the Adriatic halfway down the heel of Italy's boot) to Rome. Its southernmost point was actually at Tarentum (Taranto, at the apex of Italy's "instep.") where boats left for Egypt, Greece, and North Africa. This road achieved its goals by helping the Roman army move military supplies where they were needed in a quick manner, resulting in several victories for the army. It was also along this stretch that six thousand rebellious slaves captured in the final battle of the two-year-long Spartacus slave revolt were crucified in 71 AD on the orders of Crassus, whose wife was Caecilia Metella. Spartacus himself apparently avoided crucified, it is said he was killed in battle, however his body was never found!
We boarded the green open top Archeobus at Piazza Venezia. We passed Rome's Aurelian walls (the Bocca della Verita in the Foro Boario area, the Circus Maximus, and the baths of Carracalla) until we reached the Porta San Sebastiano gate in the city walls. Outside this gate, the road regains its ancient name and is lined for miles with tombs, catacombs, funeral monuments, and other antiquities. Among the most spectacular and famous sites are the catacombs, of course, and the well preserved tomb of Caecilia Metella. The Via Appia Antica, is now part of an nature and archaeological park, the Parco Regionale dell'Appia Antica, and makes a lovely day out, particularly on Sundays when the area is closed to traffic. I found it interesting to read that towards dusk the atmosphere gets seedy. Prostitutes appear from nowhere and settle at the roadside, while leering old men cruise up and down in their battered cars. Especially for women, it is best to stick to the daylight hours when visiting the road.
Not far from the Porta San Sebastiano gate stands the church of Domine Quo Vadis. We did not hop off at the nearest stop because we did not have any maps or leaflets about the area. About one kilometre up the road, we got off for the San Sebastiano catacomb. Just outside the church, I saw a large sketch map detailing the Via Appia route with a long detailed note on each place of interest. It revealed that there are two sets of catacombs on the route, those of St. Callixtus (Callisto) and of St. Sebastian (Sebastiano), and a third set, those of Domitilla, is within walking distance. It suggested that visitors should plan their trip to arrive at those stops in mid-morning if they want to maximize their chances of entry -- both close for the long lunch breaks of the sacristans and porters who man the churches guarding the entrances of the catacombs. We noticed that the St. Callixtus catacombs are closed on Wednesdays, the St. Sebastian Catacombs are closed on Sundays, and the Domitilla Catacombs are closed on Tuesdays. Without this informative sign, we would not have visited much of this area.
As it was almost noon and we would not be able to get into the catacombs I told Cathy that I wanted to walk back to church of Domine Quo Vadis. According to legend, it was here that St. Peter, fleeing Rome to escape Emperor Nero's persecution, had a vision of Jesus and asked him, "Domine, quo vadis?"—"Lord, where are you going?" Jesus's answer was, "To Rome, to be crucified anew," and he persuaded Peter to return to the city and accept his own martyrdom. It took us about 20 minutes to get there although in the fierce midday sun it felt longer, at one stage Cathy thought she was walking back to the city of Rome. Once inside the church we saw a slab of white marble in the centre of the church floor where Jesus' footprints were believed to be preserved for posterity. It sides were enclosed in a metal grid and Cathy accidentally fell over it whilst admiring the ceiling instead of looking where she was going which she found terribly embarrassing – fortunately a new footprint was not created!!
We saw several monuments on both sides by fields punctuated with ruins and other vestiges of Roman history. We learnt that since it was forbidden to bury the dead in the city, many were simply buried along the roads leading out of Rome. Several important people built tombs for themselves or for their whole family. Sometimes these tombs were as large as a house. Their shapes varied from a tumulus or a pyramid to a small temple.
Whilst walking, I commented to Cathy how remarkably well preserved, the road is - its large flat paving stones polished by millennia of use and weathering. We retraced our route back to the St. Sebastian Catacombs but they was still closed for another half an hour so we treated ourselves to a well earned lemon sorbet for myself and a bottle of water for Cathy and thought we had bought shares in the little mobile kiosk. The price was extortionate, nearly €10! We joined a small group for a short tour of the catacombs . The guide told us that they were created as burial sites for fourth-century Christians. The catacombs descended four dark, musty levels. This particular catacomb was named after the martyred Roman saint originally buried here. The St. Sebastian Catacombs were also the first to be called "catacumbas" or "hollows." The bodies of the apostles Peter and Paul were said to have been buried here for some time. As an increasing number of Christians wanted to be buried near them, the underground cemetery grew into miles of burial sites that astonish even today! For us, it was amazing to stand on the spot where St Sebastian was originally buried; he has since been moved into the Church above the catacombs. The church above was delightful where we visited the main altar with the tomb of St Sebastian along with a monument by Giorgetti. Opposite in what seemed to be a hidden area were some relics from the life of St Sebastian. By the way St. Sebastian is the patron saint of athletes The visit has really made an impression on me—it was hard to realize that at one time over 100,000 Christians were buried underground where we had been walking around. The guide was not very good, we agreed that Roberto 2 (Angels and Demon Dark Rome Tour) was an almost impossible act to follow.
We walked back towards the for the next catacomb - the more extensive Catacombe di San Callisto (St. Calixtus) It is thought to have five underground levels but we only visited two of them. On arrival we purchased a ticket, awaited a guided tour in our language of choice, and were then ushered rapidly around a small section of the catacomb for about twenty minutes, while the guide rattled off a fairly mechanical commentary along with a few jokes about getting lost. In each we saw only a small proportion of the tunnel complex, but enough to give us an idea of how these places were used. We also saw grave-niches which have been emptied and some which were still sealed. Some early frescoes of Biblical stories, fragments of marble inscriptions in Greek and Latin and engravings of early Christian symbols such as the fish were displayed on the walls. We found it quite an interesting experience being in narrow dark corridors, with uneven rough earth flooring and steps to negotiate. It is quite unbelievable that the catacomb contains a web of underground galleries, these catacombs were considered the official cemetery for the Christians of Rome. Featured are the Crypt of the Popes, final resting place of nine early popes, and a crypt with the remains of St. Cecilia which is said to have been found before being removed to the church dedicated to her in Trastevere. The remains of other early saints—St. Gaius, St. Eusebius, St. Cornelius—are also said to rest in these catacombs. This set of catacombs is popular with large tour groups, since there is parking for coaches
.
Continuing on Via Appia Antica we saw, on our left, the Mausoleum of Cecilia Metella a well-preserved tomb and museum dedicated to a Roman noblewoman who was a contemporary of Julius Caesar and laid to rest here. Just past the mausoleum lies the Circus of Maxentius, one of the best-preserved imperial circuses—oval-shaped chariot-racing courses—in Rome. Also here are the remains of a villa once lived in by the eponymous Roman emperor Maxentius, until he was overthrown by Constantine Augustus in the fourth century.
After an enthralling four hour walkabout, we decided to hop on the bus for the last stretch (Rome’s section) of the Via Appia– we began to see stretches of more ancient paving stones, and the smart villas lining the road giving way to fields before returning to Rome. We agreed that it was worth visiting but it was really quite dangerous walking along the very busy Appia Antica as there are no pavements. No doubt it is less treacherous on Sundays!
The Via Appia was often referred to in ancient Roman times as "longarum regina viarum" -- "queen of highways" -- because it was the first and in many ways the most important of Roman roads. It also was the only road that really led into Rome. I was most interested to read about the history of the Appian Antica. By 312 BC Rome was well under way (but not built in a day! ), and the censor Appius Claudius Caecus started to pave and extend the road and to transform it into the first Roman highway. Curves were straightened, hills were lowered, and valleys were crossed by causeways and bridges. The road began as a level dirt surface upon which mortar and small stones were laid. On top of that, gravel was placed, topped with interlocking stones that would provide a flat surface for those traveling along the 56 km long road. Historians say the stones fit together so well that it was nearly impossible to stick a knife between them.
The first paved section was from Capua (near Naples) to Rome up to 330 miles, but extensions continued to be built, and by 264 BC the Via Appia stretched from Brunduisium (Brindisi, on the Adriatic halfway down the heel of Italy's boot) to Rome. Its southernmost point was actually at Tarentum (Taranto, at the apex of Italy's "instep.") where boats left for Egypt, Greece, and North Africa. This road achieved its goals by helping the Roman army move military supplies where they were needed in a quick manner, resulting in several victories for the army. It was also along this stretch that six thousand rebellious slaves captured in the final battle of the two-year-long Spartacus slave revolt were crucified in 71 AD on the orders of Crassus, whose wife was Caecilia Metella. Spartacus himself apparently avoided crucified, it is said he was killed in battle, however his body was never found!
We boarded the green open top Archeobus at Piazza Venezia. We passed Rome's Aurelian walls (the Bocca della Verita in the Foro Boario area, the Circus Maximus, and the baths of Carracalla) until we reached the Porta San Sebastiano gate in the city walls. Outside this gate, the road regains its ancient name and is lined for miles with tombs, catacombs, funeral monuments, and other antiquities. Among the most spectacular and famous sites are the catacombs, of course, and the well preserved tomb of Caecilia Metella. The Via Appia Antica, is now part of an nature and archaeological park, the Parco Regionale dell'Appia Antica, and makes a lovely day out, particularly on Sundays when the area is closed to traffic. I found it interesting to read that towards dusk the atmosphere gets seedy. Prostitutes appear from nowhere and settle at the roadside, while leering old men cruise up and down in their battered cars. Especially for women, it is best to stick to the daylight hours when visiting the road.
Not far from the Porta San Sebastiano gate stands the church of Domine Quo Vadis. We did not hop off at the nearest stop because we did not have any maps or leaflets about the area. About one kilometre up the road, we got off for the San Sebastiano catacomb. Just outside the church, I saw a large sketch map detailing the Via Appia route with a long detailed note on each place of interest. It revealed that there are two sets of catacombs on the route, those of St. Callixtus (Callisto) and of St. Sebastian (Sebastiano), and a third set, those of Domitilla, is within walking distance. It suggested that visitors should plan their trip to arrive at those stops in mid-morning if they want to maximize their chances of entry -- both close for the long lunch breaks of the sacristans and porters who man the churches guarding the entrances of the catacombs. We noticed that the St. Callixtus catacombs are closed on Wednesdays, the St. Sebastian Catacombs are closed on Sundays, and the Domitilla Catacombs are closed on Tuesdays. Without this informative sign, we would not have visited much of this area.
As it was almost noon and we would not be able to get into the catacombs I told Cathy that I wanted to walk back to church of Domine Quo Vadis. According to legend, it was here that St. Peter, fleeing Rome to escape Emperor Nero's persecution, had a vision of Jesus and asked him, "Domine, quo vadis?"—"Lord, where are you going?" Jesus's answer was, "To Rome, to be crucified anew," and he persuaded Peter to return to the city and accept his own martyrdom. It took us about 20 minutes to get there although in the fierce midday sun it felt longer, at one stage Cathy thought she was walking back to the city of Rome. Once inside the church we saw a slab of white marble in the centre of the church floor where Jesus' footprints were believed to be preserved for posterity. It sides were enclosed in a metal grid and Cathy accidentally fell over it whilst admiring the ceiling instead of looking where she was going which she found terribly embarrassing – fortunately a new footprint was not created!!
We saw several monuments on both sides by fields punctuated with ruins and other vestiges of Roman history. We learnt that since it was forbidden to bury the dead in the city, many were simply buried along the roads leading out of Rome. Several important people built tombs for themselves or for their whole family. Sometimes these tombs were as large as a house. Their shapes varied from a tumulus or a pyramid to a small temple.
Whilst walking, I commented to Cathy how remarkably well preserved, the road is - its large flat paving stones polished by millennia of use and weathering. We retraced our route back to the St. Sebastian Catacombs but they was still closed for another half an hour so we treated ourselves to a well earned lemon sorbet for myself and a bottle of water for Cathy and thought we had bought shares in the little mobile kiosk. The price was extortionate, nearly €10! We joined a small group for a short tour of the catacombs . The guide told us that they were created as burial sites for fourth-century Christians. The catacombs descended four dark, musty levels. This particular catacomb was named after the martyred Roman saint originally buried here. The St. Sebastian Catacombs were also the first to be called "catacumbas" or "hollows." The bodies of the apostles Peter and Paul were said to have been buried here for some time. As an increasing number of Christians wanted to be buried near them, the underground cemetery grew into miles of burial sites that astonish even today! For us, it was amazing to stand on the spot where St Sebastian was originally buried; he has since been moved into the Church above the catacombs. The church above was delightful where we visited the main altar with the tomb of St Sebastian along with a monument by Giorgetti. Opposite in what seemed to be a hidden area were some relics from the life of St Sebastian. By the way St. Sebastian is the patron saint of athletes The visit has really made an impression on me—it was hard to realize that at one time over 100,000 Christians were buried underground where we had been walking around. The guide was not very good, we agreed that Roberto 2 (Angels and Demon Dark Rome Tour) was an almost impossible act to follow.
We walked back towards the for the next catacomb - the more extensive Catacombe di San Callisto (St. Calixtus) It is thought to have five underground levels but we only visited two of them. On arrival we purchased a ticket, awaited a guided tour in our language of choice, and were then ushered rapidly around a small section of the catacomb for about twenty minutes, while the guide rattled off a fairly mechanical commentary along with a few jokes about getting lost. In each we saw only a small proportion of the tunnel complex, but enough to give us an idea of how these places were used. We also saw grave-niches which have been emptied and some which were still sealed. Some early frescoes of Biblical stories, fragments of marble inscriptions in Greek and Latin and engravings of early Christian symbols such as the fish were displayed on the walls. We found it quite an interesting experience being in narrow dark corridors, with uneven rough earth flooring and steps to negotiate. It is quite unbelievable that the catacomb contains a web of underground galleries, these catacombs were considered the official cemetery for the Christians of Rome. Featured are the Crypt of the Popes, final resting place of nine early popes, and a crypt with the remains of St. Cecilia which is said to have been found before being removed to the church dedicated to her in Trastevere. The remains of other early saints—St. Gaius, St. Eusebius, St. Cornelius—are also said to rest in these catacombs. This set of catacombs is popular with large tour groups, since there is parking for coaches
.
Continuing on Via Appia Antica we saw, on our left, the Mausoleum of Cecilia Metella a well-preserved tomb and museum dedicated to a Roman noblewoman who was a contemporary of Julius Caesar and laid to rest here. Just past the mausoleum lies the Circus of Maxentius, one of the best-preserved imperial circuses—oval-shaped chariot-racing courses—in Rome. Also here are the remains of a villa once lived in by the eponymous Roman emperor Maxentius, until he was overthrown by Constantine Augustus in the fourth century.
After an enthralling four hour walkabout, we decided to hop on the bus for the last stretch (Rome’s section) of the Via Appia– we began to see stretches of more ancient paving stones, and the smart villas lining the road giving way to fields before returning to Rome. We agreed that it was worth visiting but it was really quite dangerous walking along the very busy Appia Antica as there are no pavements. No doubt it is less treacherous on Sundays!
Written July 7, 2011
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
dayao
Houston, TX4 contributions
The slaves, lead by non other than Spartacus, revolted against Rome and slavery. When Rome won back control over those who revolted they crucified them on Via Appia (Appian Way) on the way back to Rome.
It's sad to know that many people were crucified along this beautiful road. However, along with the sad is some of the most beautiful parts of this country including churches (if you can't get enough in Rome), homes, market stands, flowers, original bridges for the road (you can't cross them, but the detail of them is wonderful), and the list goes on.
It's sad to know that many people were crucified along this beautiful road. However, along with the sad is some of the most beautiful parts of this country including churches (if you can't get enough in Rome), homes, market stands, flowers, original bridges for the road (you can't cross them, but the detail of them is wonderful), and the list goes on.
Written January 25, 2005
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Cat 🐱
46 contributions
Mar 2016 • Couples
The ACTUAL Appian Way is fantastic. Big old stone road with the marks from carts/chariots still visible on it. It's amazing to see it knowing when it was built it was completely smooth/flat; it shows just how old it really is. If you've come to Rome to see the vast history then it's a must, just like the Forum etc. You can find lots of its history on Google and try to make sense of the things you're walking past. This is where I come to the negatives though: There are virtually no signs, so unless you have data on your phone don't expect to understand what all the buildings and little shrine-type structures are on the route. Also, the Via Appia Antica officially starts where the Via San Sebastiano ends at Porta San Sebastiano - this section of the Appian Way is as busy as any other Roman street, with a footpath/sidewalk about 1ft wide, and the cars driving along here are as unfriendly to pedestrians as with everywhere else in Rome - including at pedestrian crossings!! (this aspect of Rome in general I will never understand). If you Wikipedia the Appian Way even that will tell you that the first 5km of it is heavily used by traffic still today. When you get a few kms down to the older, proper Via Appia, the traffic peters out, but again I would like to make it clear to people who are under the impression you can 'quietly walk the Appian Way on a Sunday' that Sundays make no difference - even out in the sticks where you were in a very rural-looking area there were still cars; this 'closed to traffic on Sundays' nonsense is just that, nonsense. If you're ON the road it makes a difference as well (we weren't cycling but a few people passing by who were didn't look happy to be having to stop and give way to cars when on bikes they were unfamiliar with).
So, if you plan it carefully and get transport right out to where the proper road starts (I'd suggest a bus to the San Callisto catacombs so you can start the day with a visit to these then walk on from there), you prepare yourself to be vigilant for traffic, and you read up on the history and landmarks you're interested in beforehand so you know what and where they are, then it should be a very enjoyable day of walking. Also, there's a very friendly and photogenic kitty who was very gratefully accepting pats and posing for photos for a lot of tourists near one of the monuments :)
So, if you plan it carefully and get transport right out to where the proper road starts (I'd suggest a bus to the San Callisto catacombs so you can start the day with a visit to these then walk on from there), you prepare yourself to be vigilant for traffic, and you read up on the history and landmarks you're interested in beforehand so you know what and where they are, then it should be a very enjoyable day of walking. Also, there's a very friendly and photogenic kitty who was very gratefully accepting pats and posing for photos for a lot of tourists near one of the monuments :)
Written March 27, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Kimberly M
Sudbury, MA135 contributions
Jul 2012 • Family
The Appian Way looks really complicated and difficult to access but it's not. Simply take Linea B to Piramide Station. Walk to the front of the station and bear to the right and you will see the tabacheri where you can purchase the bus tickets for 118. You don't even need to get round trip-just one way. Go out to the platform number- they are labeled by the bus route. I believe it was platform 2 and had a nice view of the piramide across the street. When the bus comes we told him San Callisto and he stopped at the base of it. We then walked the 200meters to the catacomb. Took the tour (which was awesome!) and then walked on to Villa Maxentius which has an excellent circus. On the way to the Villa Maxentius- you pass the San Sebastiano catacombs From there it was a hop skip and a jump to walk to Tomb of Cecila Metelia (not as impressive- you can do just as well seeing it from the outside as there is not much on the inside). All of these sites are on the same road and are seperated by 0.1-0.5 miles. So after Celia we turned around and walked back to the town where San Callisto is located. Had lunch at the little diner and then stepped across the street to see the Domine Quo Vadis. Facing the entrance to San Callisto- we took the right hand forked road and climbed to the top- at the intersection - turned to the right and walked down the hill and reached the Catacombs of Domitilla -on the left- (very lovely, but really crowded). We then reversed our route back to the church of Domine Quo Vadis and followed the road headed away from the catacombs. About a 20 min stroll took you to the walls and ancient gate and another 10 min stroll brings you to the Baths of Caracalla. From there you can walk to the Circus Maximus and the Colosseum or pick up the metro. You can go to google maps and hit the walking directions button and log in two sites along the appian road and it will show you the distance, estimated walking time and a map. It was very accurate and we had no problems. We did see the archeobus running on our walk and I have to say- if we waited for the bus to drive us a few tenths of a mile for every 1-2 stops,- we would have been waiting a LONG time. To get to the quiet more interesting part of the Appian Way- you need to walk way out past Cecilia Metilia- for us this was less important as we did the "Appian Way" like road in Ostia Antica as well as in Pompeii. If you do go into the Ceclia Metilla site- you get into the Baths of Caracalla free on the same ticket. So instead of paying 20Euro/person for the 110/archeobus- we did it for 4E I would definately do this on a Sunday as there was much less traffic- I would not say it was closed to traffic,as there were still periodic cars speeding around.
The catacombs are fascinating and it is amazing how many there are! San Callisto's were very well preserved, had tours in English, and small group size. The leader would stop along the way and explain different parts of the catacomb system. He did a pretour lecture as well. We did not do the San Sebastian ones as they were similar and are right next door to San Callisto- however if you want to see the genuine footprint left by Jesus in the story of the Domine Quo Vadis- thenit is here that you must go. The one in the Domine church is a reproduction. Catacombs of Domitilla were slightly different in that they had more preserved frescoes. They also did tours in English but with very large groups. It was hard to hear the prelecture because they do it underground at the start of the caverns so the sound reverbates and if another group is getting a lecture- it just becomes confusing. The group was too large to hear anything the guide said on route. The tour was much shorter than San Callisto.
The catacombs are fascinating and it is amazing how many there are! San Callisto's were very well preserved, had tours in English, and small group size. The leader would stop along the way and explain different parts of the catacomb system. He did a pretour lecture as well. We did not do the San Sebastian ones as they were similar and are right next door to San Callisto- however if you want to see the genuine footprint left by Jesus in the story of the Domine Quo Vadis- thenit is here that you must go. The one in the Domine church is a reproduction. Catacombs of Domitilla were slightly different in that they had more preserved frescoes. They also did tours in English but with very large groups. It was hard to hear the prelecture because they do it underground at the start of the caverns so the sound reverbates and if another group is getting a lecture- it just becomes confusing. The group was too large to hear anything the guide said on route. The tour was much shorter than San Callisto.
Written August 21, 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hello,
What is the cost of admission to the park? Can we hire a tour guide at the entrance, are there audio guides (and do you recommend these) and can you bring into the park your own lunch?
Also, what is the best way to get to the park on a Sunday? And should we worry about pre-booking our return ride to our hotel or are there options (Sunday afternoon in October)?
Thank you.
Written August 6, 2022
We bought the combination ticket at the Metella tomb ticket office. It allows you entrance to the Qunitilli Villa and museum as well. We booked a hotel taxi for the afternoon. The driver took the 3 of us anywhere we wanted to go for a flat rate,
There are tables in front of the Quintilli museum where you could have your picnic lunch,
We did not hire a guide or use audio guide, There are several sign boards along the paths which explain in English what you are looking at. The Quintilli museum is small but has lots of English signage,
The Villa ruins are
behind the museum. The path goes up a small hill but is really not accessible for anyone using a wheelchair, Well worth seeing though!
Written August 7, 2022
Buonasera, vorrei visitare il parco e in particolare passare per la via alberata che ha i sampietrini per terra. Come faccio ad arrivare in quel punto? Da dove mi conviene partire e che percorso devo effettuare? Grazie
Written February 7, 2021
Marco M
Rome, Italy
Buongiorno, il primo tratto della via Appia Antica con l'antico basolato si trova poco dopo la Tomba di Cecilia Metella (in via Appia Antica 161). Oltre a quel primo tratto proseguendo dritto sulla stessa strada troverà degli altri tratti (fiancheggiati sia dalle tombe che dai cipressi). Potrà prendere il bus 118 fino alla fermata Appia Antica/San Sebastiano e da lì procedere a piedi per 600 metri. Oppure potrà raggiungere le Catacombe di San Sebastiano in macchina (tranne la domenica) dove è presente un piccolo parcheggio e da lì sempre a piedi. Potrà trovare delle mappe da scaricare nel nostro sito nella sezione download. Per qualsiasi chiarimento e altre informazioni contatti il centro servizi appia antica al 065135316
Saluti
Written February 19, 2021
ci sono posti dove poter campeggiare la notte con tendine da 2/3 persone? ci sono servizi igienici?
Written March 13, 2020
Certamente! Scarpe comode, una giornata tiepida e via!
Written December 29, 2018
Di domenica, partendo dalla stazione Termini, quale autobus devo prendere per arrivare al centro servizi via Appia Antica, dove si affittano le biciclette?
Written September 18, 2018
In bus:
– Linea 118 da P.zza Venezia o Circo Massimo (Metro B)
– Linea 218 da P.zza San Giovanni (Metro A)
Scendere alla fermata Appia Antica/Domine Quo Vadis
– Linee 30express, 130 (festivo), 160, 671, 714 e 715; scendere alla fermata Cristoforo Colombo/Bavastro o Cristoforo Colombo/Circonvallazione Ostiense e percorrere la Circonvallazione Ardeatina.
Written September 20, 2018
Hi
Is it easy to rent a bike here if we also want to see the catacoms?
Thanks
Written March 12, 2018
Sure, you can rent bikes at the main tourist information office where you will also get maps, information and locks to park your bikes outside the catacombs and other monuments, you can make reservation on the website: appiaantica.bike
Written March 13, 2018
nycdoyle
New York City, New York
I've been looking for a small or private tour of these three things - appian way, catacombs, aquaduct... does anybody have a recommendation of a super-knowledgeable tour guide or company? Really want to learn the history and religious aspects!
Written November 4, 2017
Sorry nycdoyle it's now called city wonders
Written November 5, 2017
Ciao a tutti
qualcuno potrebbe indicarmi uno degli ingressi principali del parco dotato di un piccolo parcheggio per scooter?
Written October 27, 2017
Ciao! Se vuoi noleggiare le bici (Centro Servizi di Via Appia Antica, 60) ti consigliamo il parcheggio gratuito dell'Ente Parco in Via Appia Antica, 50. Se vieni di domenica invece è necessario parcheggiare nei pressi di Via Tito Omboni, angolo L.go Galvaligi. Un saluto!
Written October 27, 2017
From the main entry point for the Via Appia Antica, how far is it go get to the aqueducts park (mainly, aqua Claudia)??
Written September 16, 2017
Hi you need to hire a bike at the park entrance as it's too far to walk it's about 14 km round trip but well worth doing as the acquaducts are stunning there's a lot to see along the appian way so we allowed ourselves a full day and also visited the catacombs as well
Written September 16, 2017
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