Appian Way Regional Park
41°50′32.84″N 12°31′42.52″E / 41.8424556°N 12.5284778°E The Appian Way Regional Park is the second-largest urban park of Europe, after Losiny Ostrov National Park in Moscow.[1][2][3] It is a protected area of around 4580 hectares, established by the Italian region of Latium. It falls primarily within the territory of Rome but parts also extend into the neighbouring towns of Ciampino and Marino.
The Park
The park aims to be a "green wedge" between the centre of Rome and the Alban Hills to the southeast. It contains a majority of the relics of Ancient Rome to be found outside the city centre. It consists of the Appian Way, from the centre of Rome to the 10th Mile, including the Villa of the Quintilii; the Park of the Caffarella; the Tombs of Via Latina archaeological zone; and the Aqueduct Park as well as other areas not accessible to the public.
History
The idea of a great archaeological park between the
In 1931, a new plan envisaged the Appian Way to become a great park but this idea was threatened after the
The Appian Way
The Appian Way (Latin and Italian: Via Appia) was one of the earliest and strategically most important Roman roads of ancient Rome. It connected Rome to Brindisi in southeast Italy. After the fall of the Roman Empire, the road fell out of use. On the orders of
Via Latina Tombs
The Tombs of Via Latina are Roman tombs, mainly from the 2nd century AD, that are found along a short stretch of the old Roman road of Via Latina, on the southeast outskirts of Rome, within the Regional Park. They now constitute an archaeological park and can be visited. The tombs were discovered in 1857–58. Excavations supported by Pope Pius IX subsequently uncovered various sepulchers and tombs along a 450m stretch of the old road.
Caffarella Valley
The Caffarella Valley is a large park bordered on its northern side by the
Tor Fiscale Park
Six Roman aqueducts made their way into Rome through this small area, which takes its name from a 13th Century watchtower. Over the years the area was a popular encampment for armies seeking to invade Rome as it was on the Via Latina and close to the Appian Way.
Aqueducts Park
The Parco degli Acquedotti is a public park of approximately 240 ha. The park is named after the aqueducts that dissect it, the Aqua Felix and the Aqua Claudia. It also contains the remains of the Villa delle Vignacce[9] to the North West.
Villa of the Quintilii
The Villa of the Quintilii (Italian: Villa dei Quintili) is an ancient Roman villa beyond the fifth mile of the Appian Way. It was built by the brothers Sextus Quintilius Maximus and Sextus Quintilius Condianus during the 2nd century.[10] The villa included extensive thermae fed by its own aqueduct, and a hippodrome, dating from the fourth century. The emperor Commodus coveted the villa strongly enough to put to death the brothers in 182 and confiscate it for himself.
Villa of the sette bassi
The villa lies to the south of Via Tuscolana. Its name probably derives from Septimius Bassus, prefect under the Emperor Septimius Severus (193 - 211), and is second in size only to the villa of the Quintilii. It was built towards the middle of the second century, close to the fifth mile of the Via Latina, in the time of Emperor Antoninus Pius.
Tor Marancia
Slightly to the west of the main park area, Tor Marancia is an undulating, wooded area containing considerable biodiversity for an area so close to Rome's suburbs.[7]
See also
In addition to sites from ancient Rome, the Regional Park includes, or borders on, many religious sites and other points of interest, including:
- Church of Domine Quo Vadis
- Saint Sebastian outside the Walls
- Church of Sant'Urbano alla Caffarella
- Ardeatine Caves. Site of massacre of Roman citizens by Germans during World War II.
- Catacombs of Domitilla
- Catacomb of Callixtus
- Catacombs of San Sebastiano
- Vigna Randanini Jewish Catacomb
Photo gallery
References
- ^ "Parchi Urbani più grandi e belli d'Italia".
- ^ "Parco Regionale dell'Appia Antica".
- ^ "Roma, la città più verde d'Europa". 2 March 2017.
- ^ a b Paris, Rita, “Appia, una questione non risolta" in “La via Appia, il bianco e il nero di un patrimonio italiano.” Electa. 2011
- ^ a b c url=http://www.parcoappiaantica.it/it/testi.asp[permanent dead link]
- ^ Maria Pia Guermandi “Sulla via Appia Antica…..Storia e cronaca per la difesa dell’Appia da ‘Il Mondo’ al web" in “La via Appia, il bianco e il nero di un patrimonio italiano.” Electa. 2011
- ^ a b Guida Turistica Del Parco Dell'Appia Antica. Parco Regionale Dell'Appia Antica.
- ^ The Caffarella Valley. Pamphlet produced by the Parco Regionale dell'Appia Antica
- ^ "Sam McVane "The Villa delle Vignacce at Rome, Italy"". Archived from the original on 2014-02-22. Retrieved 2014-03-07.
- ^ A. Ricci, Le villa dei Quintilii (Rome 1998)