The Via Appia was the first paved Roman road. Built in 312 B.C. by Consul Appius Claudius Caecus, it linked Rome to Brindisium. Here we see the part of the Via Appia that had to pass along the Caracalla Baths, and then get out of the city through the Porta Appia. It was only beyond the Aurelian Wall that the Via Appia was lined with tombs. Parallel to the Via Appia was built later the Via Nova which should make a direct link between the city and the Baths of Caracalla. The Via Nova was a much broader and spacious road.








Some gardens, called Area Splenis, covered a part of the ground facing the porticoes of the Baths of Caracalla. A small wood and some small temples should be enough to make this place quite pleasant.












On the Via Latina appeared the majestic Asinii Palace, on the right of the picture, with its gardens. The Gens Asinii was one of the most prestigious families of the ancient Rome.




























The Asinii Palace and its gardens in a closer view. In the foreground the Via Latina.














TheDrusus Arch on the Via Appia, erected in 9 BC. It was built in honour of Nero Claudius Drusus (the brother of the future emperor Tiberius). It was made of marble and adorned with trophies. Still today remains the splendid arch over the Via Appia. The Drusus Arch was also part of the l'Aqua Damnata mainly underground, that carried a water of bad quality reputation, because it was coming from the Aqua Craba. On top of the picture on the right side, the Asinii palace with its gardens.









The Porta Latina in the Aurelian Wall. A columbarium is a common funeral room consisting in niches within the walls in which cinerary urns are deposited. The . columbarium of Pomponius Hylas, close to the Porta Latina, today still relatively well preserved. Pomponius Hylas was a slave who had obtained his freedom and who became wealthy under Augustus and Tiberius. He let build this colombarium for himself and his wife.