Appian Way Bike Tour

We will begin the Appian Way bike tour with the discovery of the Baths of Caracalla, in what perhaps was the largest bath complex in the ancient Rome. Located near the beginning of Via Appia, the Terme di Caracalla anticipate the amazing journey through time we are going to experience. The Terme still have much of the original structure dating from 306 AD, and today they attract hundreds of thousands of tourists each year as a museum and location for many shows, especially in summertime.
Immediately after the Baths of Caracalla, we will visit Porta San Sebastiano, one of the most beautiful, most preserved, Aureliano’s wallcuts.
Built around 275, it has its name for the proximity to the catacombs of San Sabastiano, indeed.
After it, we will focus on the Aurelian Walls.
The Aurelian Walls are considered the greatest defense the Roman empire had against the raids of the barbarians.
Built through the will of the Emperor Aureliano in 270, today we can still look at them in all their splendor, despite the passing of the years and the numerous suffered interventions.
The original length was 19 km, today there are about 12.5 km.
The Aurelian Walls are among the longest and best preserved wall enclosures around the world.
The fourth stop of our tour will be the Via Appia Antica.
Appia was considered the queen of the streets in the ancient Rome, connecting the capital to Brindisium, the current Brindisi, home to what perhaps was the main port in ancient times, especially for trade in the East.
Its construction began in 312 BC by the desire of the Appio Claudio Cieco censor and it is still considered to be one of the greatest engineering works of the ancient world.
Some traits, nowadays in the Roman suburbs, are still a viable and they are the destination for archeology enthusiasts around the world.

Between Via Appia Antica and Via Ardeatina we will find the Catacombs of San Callisto, comprised in an area of ​​about 30 hectares.
The Catacombs of San Callisto are considered the first real cemetery of the Roman Community.
Their creation dates back to the end of the 2nd century and their name comes from deacon Callisto, the person commissioned by the Pope to administer them.
It was here that more than 50 martyrs and 16 pontiffs were burial.

Then we will move to the third mile of Via Appia Antica where the Circus of Massenzio is located.
Also known as the Circus of Romulus, the Circus of Massenzio was built around 311, and was located near the villa of Massenzio and the Mausoleum of his son Valerio Romolo.
Today there are few traces of construction, but we know that it was 92 meters wide and could accommodate up to 10,000 people, 15 times less than the Circus Maximus.
Not far from the circus of Massenzio lies the Tomb of Cecilia Metella. Included in the museum circuit of the Caracalla Baths and Villa dei Quintili, the Tomb of Cecilia Metella is now home to a museum.
We does not have much personal information about Cecilia Metella; on the mausoleum are scenes of war and an epigraph to celebrate the family name. It was entirely covered with travertine with perhaps a dome on top, today destroyed.

From this point the Appian Way  heads to the countryside towards the Castelli Romani hills, spread with ancient ruins. Check out our extended edition of the Appia tour. Keep on going may be demanding for not fit cyclists or children so we are now ready to go back to our starting point ending our Appia Antica bike tour.

Choose to discover the hidden wonders of the Eternal City with us at LeadingRoma, with our tours, biking and walking, that will let you know and admire the most beautiful and suggestive parts of the city without leaving anything to chance.