L'Italo-Americano

L'Italo-Americano THURSDAY, AUGUST 22, 2024 www.italoamericano.org 6 NEWS & FEATURES TOP STORIES PEOPLE EVENTS i n v o l v i n g f o u r r e g i o n s — Lazio, Campania, Basilicata, a n d P u g l i a — a s w e l l a s 7 4 municipalities, 13 metropoli- tan areas, 14 parks, and 25 universities. As the Ministry's Undersecretary, Gianmar- co Mazzi, pointed out, "This recognition is a great success for the Ministry of Culture but, above all, for the mil- lions of Italians living in the territories of the Via Appia, a world symbol of our history and origins." L u c i a B o r g o n z o n i , another Undersecretary of t h e M i n i s t r y o f C u l t u r e , echoed her colleagues' words, stating, "The news from New Delhi fills us with pride. With the inclusion of 'Via Appia. Regina Viarum' in the World Heritage List, we reinforce our position as the country with the highest number of UNESCO-recognized sites, now totaling 60." Borgonzoni also pointed out the wide col- laboration between numer- ous institutional and commu- nity stakeholders that made the nomination successful. The recognition of the Via Appia as a UNESCO World Heritage site is not limited to t h e r o a d i t s e l f , b u t a l s o includes the monuments, set- tlements, and service infra- structures that flourished along its length, particularly during its most significant period of use between 312 BC a n d t h e 4 t h c e n t u r y A D . These include ports, sepul- c h e r s , s t a t u e s , r e l i g i o u s structures, and epigraphs, all reflecting the road's long- standing role as a place of m e m o r y a n d c u l t u r a l exchange. The monuments along the first 12 miles of the road, which are some of the most famous in Roman his- tory, were also celebrated in art and literature for cen- turies. T h e r o l e o f R o m a n roads in shaping Europe W h i l e w e c e l e b r a t e t h e R e g i n a V i a r u m f o r i t s U N E S C O r e c o g n i t i o n a n d d i s c o v e r m o r e a b o u t i t s essential role in the Empire, it's important to note how Roman roads did, in fact, support economic develop- ment and cultural exchange not only in Italy but across Europe. At their peak, the Romans built an extensive n e t w o r k o f o v e r 1 2 0 , 0 0 0 kilometers (about 75,000 miles) of roads that spanned from the British Isles in the northwest to Mesopotamia i n t h e e a s t , a n d f r o m t h e Rhine and Danube rivers in the north to the deserts of North Africa in the south. These roads facilitated the movement of legions, mer- c h a n t s , a n d m e s s e n g e r s , establishing a communica- t i o n s y s t e m t h a t w a s unprecedented in its effi- ciency. M a n y o f t h e s e r o a d s , including famous routes like the Via Domitia in France, t h e V i a E g n a t i a i n t h e Balkans, and Stane Street in Britain, became permanent fixtures in Europe's infra- structure. To this day, sever- a l a n c i e n t R o m a n r o a d s remain in use: for example, parts of the Via Augusta in Spain are still visible and have been integrated into the modern road system. In the UK, the Fosse Way—which once connected Exeter to Lincoln—is still a prominent route. The legacy of Roman road building is also particularly evident in how they helped shape the urban layouts of settlements across Europe. Many cities, including Lon- d o n ( L o n d i n i u m ) , P a r i s ( L u t e t i a ) , a n d C o l o g n e ( C o l o n i a ) , w e r e f o u n d e d along them, making them c r i t i c a l t o t h e s p r e a d o f Roman culture and gover- nance. The Via Appia in the Middle Ages and beyond Let us go back to the Via Appia, and see how its histo- ry and use evolved after the end of the Western Roman Empire, in the 5th century. Like many of the ancient Roman infrastructure pro- jects, the Via Appia faced periods of neglect and aban- donment, particularly during the early Middle Ages when much of Europe was under- going political and social upheaval. The collapse of centralized Roman authority led to a decline in road main- tenance, and many sections o f t h e V i a A p p i a b e c a m e overgrown or fell into disre- pair. Despite this, the road retained its historical signifi- cance and continued to serve as a vital passageway, espe- cially for those making reli- gious pilgrimages or engag- ing in trade. In the 14th century, the Via Appia saw a resurgence thanks to the efforts of the Papal States and the King- dom of Naples. The Papal S t a t e s , w h i c h c o n t r o l l e d much of central Italy, recog- nized the value of the Via Appia for both religious and political purposes. Pilgrims traveling to Rome often used s e c t i o n s o f t h e r o a d , a n d restoring it was seen as both a p r a c t i c a l a n d s y m b o l i c e f f o r t t o r e c o n n e c t w i t h Rome's imperial past. The road also helped the Papal States maintain control over southern Italy and facilitated communication with their territories. In the Kingdom of Naples, the Via Appia became an essential route for connect- ing the northern and south- ern parts of the kingdom, ensuring economic and mili- tary mobility. At later stages, the road's revival under the reign of the Angevin kings and later rulers like Alfonso V of Aragon reflected its con- tinued relevance in the post- Roman world. Restorations were undertaken to make the road usable again, ensuring t h a t i t c o u l d s u p p o r t t h e m o v e m e n t o f t r o o p s a n d goods, reinforcing the road's role as a key artery in Italy's infrastructure. Even Napoleon Bona- parte, during his campaign in Italy at the turn of the19th c e n t u r y , r e c o g n i z e d t h e strategic importance of the V i a A p p i a . H e d e e m e d i t essential for his military and political ambitions and inte- grated it into his broader p l a n s f o r I t a l y a n d t h e Mediterranean region. The road's direct route and his- torical prestige made it an ideal asset for his operations, and it was included in his plans for reconstructing and modernizing Italy's trans- p o r t a t i o n n e t w o r k . B u t Napoleon's interest in the road was not only practical b u t a l s o s y m b o l i c , a s h e sought to position himself as a successor to the Roman emperors: using the same roads as they once did, deliv- ered a powerful message to both his subjects and his ene- mies. Over the centuries, the Via Appia has been the subject of numerous restoration and preservation efforts. Succes- sive rulers, governments, and even private patrons have contributed to its mainte- nance, recognizing its dual r o l e a s b o t h a s y m b o l o f Italy's historical grandeur and a practical thoroughfare. The road's architecture, engi- neering, and cultural signifi- cance made it a focal point for preservation, especially as Italy moved toward unifi- cation in the 19th century a n d s o u g h t t o d e f i n e i t s national identity by connect- ing with its ancient roots. With its UNESCO recogni- tion we can say that, in many w a y s , t h e V i a A p p i a h a s come full circle: what began as a military road connecting R o m e t o i t s d i s t a n t provinces, now serves as a cultural and historical high- way. It stands, today more t h a n y e s t e r d a y , a s a reminder of the enduring influence of Roman civiliza- tion, and its ability to adapt and evolve through centuries of change. The Via Appia initially served military purposes, but its role quickly expanded into commercial and cultural domains. The Roman concept of "via publica" was ground- breaking in that the road was conceived as a public thoroughfare, free for anyone CONTINUED FROM PAGE 4 The Via Appia seen from Porta Appia (Photo: Karl Allen Lugmayer/Dreamstime) and, bottom left, a funerary monument along the famous road (Photo: Robodread/Dreamstime)

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