The Roman road built in 312 BCE and known as the “Queen of Roads” is the Via Appia, or Appian Way.
Construction began under Appius Claudius Caecus, a Roman censor, during the Samnite Wars. The first section linked Rome with Capua, helping Roman armies move supplies and troops into southern Italy. The route was later extended through the Italian peninsula to Brundisium, modern Brindisi, an important Adriatic port.
Its Latin reputation, regina viarum, means “queen of roads” or more literally “queen of the long roads.” The name refers to the road’s strategic importance, engineering quality, and exceptional status among Rome’s major highways. It was built with layered foundations, gravel, mortar, and tightly fitted paving stones, often with a cambered surface for drainage.
A common mix-up is confusing the Via Appia with the Via Flaminia or Via Aurelia, other major Roman roads built for different routes. The Appian Way entered the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2024.