View from the entrance towards the New Appian Way.
OK, I love buses, and yes, I admit it, it is strange to love public transportation, especially in a city where the buses are on strike once a month (most of the time on Friday), but nobody is perfect.
So for my birthday with some friends, I took bus number 118. Yeah, I also know the choice to visit ruins on my birthday sounds strange.
Line number 118 reaches the Appian Way, the most important and best preserved consular road built by our grand-grand grandparents. We will never thank them enough for that. Grazie nonni!
So we reached the end of the line and visited the large Villa dei Quintili built in the II century AD by two brothers that the emperor Commodus accused of conspiracy to get hold of their estate. Since then for centuries, the villa remained imperial property. In Middle Ages, the archaeological site was so large that the Romans considered it a separate town and called it the 'Roma Vecchia'.
So for my birthday with some friends, I took bus number 118. Yeah, I also know the choice to visit ruins on my birthday sounds strange.
Line number 118 reaches the Appian Way, the most important and best preserved consular road built by our grand-grand grandparents. We will never thank them enough for that. Grazie nonni!
So we reached the end of the line and visited the large Villa dei Quintili built in the II century AD by two brothers that the emperor Commodus accused of conspiracy to get hold of their estate. Since then for centuries, the villa remained imperial property. In Middle Ages, the archaeological site was so large that the Romans considered it a separate town and called it the 'Roma Vecchia'.
 The new ground recently purchased by the Italian State called 'Santa Maria Nova' finally allows the visitors in from the Appia Antica (Ancient Appian Way). | The Villa dei Quintili and the nearby ruins of the Roman Aqueducts are visible to any traveler landing at Ciampino Airport and driving on the Appia Nuova (the New Appian Way) to reach the city center of Rome. Since it was opened to the public, the only access to the Villa was from this modern road. Still, the Italian State has recently purchased a new portion of terrain, and it is finally possible to enter the Villa from the Ancient Appian Way while strolling or biking on this peaceful road. The position in the heart of the regional park of the Appian Way makes this Villa a little oasis just off the city walls. The Villa has a stadium, well-preserved baths, a large ninfeum (fountain), and residential areas that well show the emperors' comfortable life and their entourage. Moreover, there is a tiny high-tech museum that preserves part of the archaeological finds of the Villa. |
To fully appreciate the Appian Way, I would recommend starting from the Aurelian Walls with the visit of the Museum of the Ancient Walls, to end up at Villa dei Quintili. You will need a full day to enjoy this part of Rome by bicycle or foot.
On the Appian Way, many monuments can be visited: the Circus of Maxentius, the Mausoleum of Cecilia Metella, and the oldest Christian Catacombs in Rome.
On the Appian Way, many monuments can be visited: the Circus of Maxentius, the Mausoleum of Cecilia Metella, and the oldest Christian Catacombs in Rome.
A Panoramic view of the Museum of villa dei Quintili, a small treasure case. You will find it on the Appia Nuova entrance.
Useful tips: you can reach the Appian way and Villa dei Quintili with bus number 118 or 664. I would recommend bus 118, which has a long route but covers many sites, also passing in front of the Colosseum. Download one of the many free transport apps to control when buses are passing near your position.
Take a break for lunch at the small cafè near the Mausoleum of Cecilia Metella or the local restaurants (osteria) along the way. Along the Appian way, there is also a Gladiators school in case you travel with children.
Villa dei Quintili can be visited with a ticket that only costs 6 euros and includes entry to the Mausoleum of Cecilia Metella and the Caracalla's Baths for seven days.
If you need any further information, contact me at [email protected]
Take a break for lunch at the small cafè near the Mausoleum of Cecilia Metella or the local restaurants (osteria) along the way. Along the Appian way, there is also a Gladiators school in case you travel with children.
Villa dei Quintili can be visited with a ticket that only costs 6 euros and includes entry to the Mausoleum of Cecilia Metella and the Caracalla's Baths for seven days.
If you need any further information, contact me at [email protected]
