L'Italo-Americano

L'Italo-Americano THURSDAY, AUGUST 22, 2024 www.italoamericano.org 4 I t a l y ' s R e g i n a Viarum (the "Queen of Roads"), the Via Appia, was officially r e c o g n i z e d a s a UNESCO World Heritage site during the 46th session of the World Heritage Com- mittee in New Delhi, India. This prestigious acknowledg- ment is a milestone for Italy, marking the 60th entry of an Italian site into the UNESCO list. Yet, this is much more than a number because, once a g a i n , m o d e r n i t y p a y s homage to the enduring sig- nificance of Roman ingenu- ity, military might, and cul- tural connectivity. The origins of the Via Appia Constructed in 312 BC by the Roman censor Appius Claudius Caecus, the Via Appia was initially designed as a military road to ensure a rapid and efficient connec- t i o n b e t w e e n R o m e a n d Capua. Eventually, it was extended to reach the port city of Brindisi, the gateway to Greece and the eastern t e r r i t o r i e s o f t h e R o m a n Empire. The road's strategic importance was immense, a n d s o w a s i t s r o l e a s a n a n c i e n t s t a t u s s y m b o l : according to Livy, the great Roman historian, Appius Claudius gave the road his name because he wanted to be associated with such an i n c r e d i b l e e n g i n e e r i n g achievement. … And Appius Claudius w a s r i g h t , b e c a u s e w h a t made the Via Appia stand out in ancient times was not j u s t i t s s c a l e b u t t h e advanced engineering solu- tions employed in its con- struction: the road included viaducts, bridges, and tun- n e l s , w h i c h e n s u r e d a s t r a i g h t a n d r a p i d r o u t e through diverse landscapes, including swamps, rivers, and mountain ranges. At the time, most roads were little more than dirt tracks that became impassable during rain, but the Via Appia was different: its construction represented a leap in civil engineering. In addition to being perfectly straight, the road spanned over 365 miles (roughly 540 kilometers) from Rome to Brindisi, a journey that could be com- pleted in 13-14 days by foot, an impressive feat for its t i m e . M o r e o v e r , R o m a n engineers used a multi-lay- ered roadbed with a convex surface that allowed water to drain off efficiently, prevent- ing damage to the structure. From military road to cultural corridor While the Via Appia ini- tially served military purpos- es, its role quickly expanded into commercial and cul- tural domains, as the road became a key conduit for the transport of goods, people, and ideas. The Roman con- c e p t o f v i a p u b l i c a w a s groundbreaking in that the road was conceived as a pub- lic thoroughfare, free for anyone to use. Moreover, milestones, sidewalks, and postal stations were strategi- cally placed along the road to aid travel, making it an efficient network for com- munication and trade. Roads were a key element in spreading Roman culture and civilization across the M e d i t e r r a n e a n a n d i n t o Europe, and acted as cultur- al bridges between Rome a n d i t s p r o v i n c e s . T h e Roman postal system, cur- sus publicus, relied on roads — including the Via Appia — to transmit messages, allow- ing the Empire to maintain control over its far-flung ter- ritories. Because of its key role in joining Rome to its e a s t e r n , c u l t u r a l l y l i v e l y provinces, the Via Appia over time became a meeting place for cultures, facilitat- ing the exchange of ideas, a r t , a n d r e l i g i o n . T h e already-mentioned historian Livy was one of the many a n c i e n t w r i t e r s w h o a c k n o w l e d g e d t h e r o a d ' s political, social, and cultural significance. The path to UNESCO recognition The decision to include t h e V i a A p p i a o n t h e UNESCO World Heritage list underscores both its his- torical importance and its cultural legacy. As Italian Minister of Culture, Gen- n a r o S a n g i u l i a n o , r e m a r k e d u p o n t h e a n n o u n c e m e n t , " T h e V i a Appia is now a World Her- itage site, a recognition of o u r h i s t o r y a n d i d e n t i t y f r o m w h i c h a n e c o n o m i c revitalization of the regions i t c r o s s e s c a n g r o w . " H e emphasized that the road's role in history goes beyond Italy, highlighting its func- tion as a critical infrastruc- t u r e t h a t c o n n e c t e d t h e Mediterranean world with t h e E a s t , e n a b l i n g t h e exchange of goods and ideas t h a t s h a p e d t h e a n c i e n t world. This recognition is partic- ularly significant as it was t h e f i r s t a p p l i c a t i o n f o r UNESCO World Heritage status submitted directly by the Italian Ministry of Cul- ture. The Ministry coordi- n a t e d a m a s s i v e e f f o r t The Via Appia becomes the 60th Italian UNESCO World Heritage Site FRANCESCA BEZZONE NEWS & FEATURES TOP STORIES PEOPLE EVENTS CONTINUED TO PAGE 6 The Roman Forum and the Via Appia (Photo: Zaramira/Dreamstime)

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