Walk Rome

All Roads Lead to Rome

When you visit Rome, you will undoubtedly go to see the Roman Forum. This area has been built over many centuries, from the earliest republic through the glorious years of the empire. The first paving of a large piazza dates from around 600 BC. It was the fulcrum of economic, political and religious activity. Many temples and public places, ever larger and more functional, adorned with numerous statues, were gradually erected in the Forum, reaching its apex in the late imperial period. During the regal period (VIII-VI centuries BC) and part of the republican period (VI – I centuries BC), the buildings were often made of wood and bricks. Later they were enlarged, made more spectacular and composed mostly of marble, a material capable of defying the ravages of time.  

In the Roman Forum, near the enormous arch of Septimius Severus is the Milliarium Aureum (Golden Milepost), (in Italian Miglio Aureo), built by Augustus in 20 AD. This was a column, covered in gilded bronze, from which all distance measurements were made for the vast road system, which spread out all over the empire for more than 50,000 miles. On the column were indicated the distances to major cities. From here, we can appreciate where the expression “all roads lead to Rome” came from.

The vast road system goes back to the republican era (second and third century BC).  Especially the consular roads like Appia, Cassia, Aurelia, and Flaminia that led to the distant provinces, constituted a level of complexity only reached again by twentieth century highways. These ancient Roman roads were planned in a straight line, so they required enormous collateral projects. Swamps had to be drained, bridges raised to span valleys, and huge amounts of rock and dirt had to be removed. The modern road and railway systems in many countries have been superimposed over the strong foundations of the ancient Roman road network.