Appian Way

By Deane Barker •

This was a very important road in Ancient Rome. It was named after a guy called “Appius.”

It was a technologically advanced road for the time (300s BC). It was paved with interlocking stones, and was crowned to run water off to gutters on the sides.

It was about 350 miles long, and in one section, it’s completely straight for 39 miles, which is the longest straight road in all of Europe.

It still exists, in pieces.

Why I Looked It Up

When I lived in Pinole, California, our freeway exit was Appian Way. I had some vague recollection of a historical meaning. I was talking to someone from the Bay Area, and they were familiar with the exit, and I finally decided to look up what it meant.

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