Via Appia/Via Appia Traiana in brief

Classic Roman road out of central Roma. Original and bumpy in parts purely for leisure (no vehicles) on Sundays. A stiff climb up to Castel Gandolfo before picking up again sections of VA. Unable to follow much as completely overgrown on lesser roadways or now the line of main highways. Pretty flat to the Mediterranean and Terracina where the ancient road is visible. Again in Formia the tomb of Cicero stands alongside the VA (although my coastal route failed to follow it to inland through Fondi) and its not until Capua/Santa Maria Capua Vetere  that the VA becomes clear again. The Trajan Arch in Benevento is the iconic symbol of the start of the Via Traiana ie the 'quick' route to Bari and the Adriatic. My route. The VA branches south towards Brindisi. Over the Apennines is a lonely ride but not much more than a 1,000 meters of climbing. A Roman bridge and lesser Trajan Arch on the VAT entering into Canosa di Puglia. The VAT is signposted from Ruva di Puglia. A rough track towards Bari stopping well short.