Roman Roads

All roads led to Rome. These are the principal viae of Italy and the provinces, with their builders and routes.

Roads of Italy

Road	Begun	Builder	Route	Notes
Via Appia	312 BC	Appius Claudius Caecus	Rome → Brundisium (Brindisi)	Begun in 312 BC by the censor Appius Claudius Caecus from Rome to Capua, then extended to Beneventum, Venusia, Tarentum and (by the mid-3rd century BC) Brundisium, the port of embarkation for Greece and the East. Lined with tombs outside Rome, including that of Caecilia Metella.
Via Flaminia	220 BC	Gaius Flaminius	Rome → Ariminum (Rimini)	Built in 220 BC by the censor Gaius Flaminius from Rome across the Tiber at the Milvian Bridge, through Umbria and the Furlo Pass to the Adriatic and Ariminum; the main route to the Po valley. Augustus restored it in 27 BC, commemorated by arches at Rimini and on the Milvian Bridge.
Via Aurelia	c. 241 BC	Gaius Aurelius Cotta	Rome → Pisae (Pisa) and Luna	Coast road of Etruria, built c. 241 BC by the censor Gaius Aurelius Cotta, probably at first as far as Cosa and later to Vada Volaterrana, Pisae and Luna. Continued by the Via Aemilia Scauri and Via Julia Augusta, it became the land route to Gaul.
Via Aemilia	187 BC	Marcus Aemilius Lepidus	Ariminum (Rimini) → Placentia (Piacenza)	Built in 187 BC by the consul Marcus Aemilius Lepidus, continuing the Via Flaminia from Ariminum in an almost straight line through Bononia, Mutina and Parma to Placentia on the Po. It was the backbone of the colonisation of Cisalpine Gaul.
Via Flaminia minor	187 BC	Gaius Flaminius (consul 187 BC)	Bononia (Bologna) → Arretium (Arezzo)	Trans-Apennine road from Bononia to Arretium, built according to Livy in 187 BC by the consul Gaius Flaminius (son of the builder of the Via Flaminia) after subduing the Ligurians. Its exact course is disputed; stretches of paving have been found near the Futa Pass.
Via Cassia	c. 154 BC		Rome → Arretium (Arezzo), later Florentia and Luca	Inland road through Etruria from the Milvian Bridge via Sutrium, Lake Bolsena and Clusium to Arretium, later extended to Florentia, Pistoriae and Luca. Its builder and date are uncertain; it is often attributed to Gaius Cassius Longinus, censor in 154 BC.
Via Postumia	148 BC	Spurius Postumius Albinus	Genua (Genoa) → Aquileia	Built in 148 BC by the consul Spurius Postumius Albinus across Cisalpine Gaul from Genua via Dertona, Placentia, Cremona and Verona to Aquileia, linking the two seas. Both battles of Bedriacum (AD 69) were fought along it.
Via Traiana	AD 109	Trajan	Beneventum (Benevento) → Brundisium (Brindisi)	Built by Trajan at his own expense in AD 109 as an alternative to the Via Appia from Beneventum to Brundisium, crossing to Apulia and following the coast through Canusium, Barium and Gnathia; it saved a day or more. The Arch of Trajan at Beneventum (AD 114) marks its start.
Via Latina			Rome → Casilinum (Capua)	One of the oldest roads out of Rome, following the inland valleys of the Trerus (Sacco) and Liris through Anagnia, Frusino, Aquinum and Casinum to join the Via Appia at Casilinum. No builder is recorded; it was probably in use before the Via Appia, and gave its name to the Porta Latina.
Via Salaria			Rome → Castrum Truentinum (Martinsicuro) on the Adriatic	The 'salt road', older than Rome's other highways: the track by which the Sabines fetched salt from the pans at the Tiber mouth. It ran from the Porta Collina (later Porta Salaria) via Reate and Asculum to the Adriatic at Castrum Truentinum.
Via Labicana			Rome → Junction with the Via Latina at Ad Bivium (near Valmontone)	Road south-east from the Porta Esquilina to Labici, continuing to join the Via Latina at Ad Bivium; it offered an easier gradient than the first stretch of the Latina and was preferred in imperial times. A famous statue of Augustus as pontifex maximus was found beside it.
Via Ostiensis			Rome → Ostia	Road along the left bank of the Tiber from the Porta Trigemina (later the Porta Ostiensis, now Porta San Paolo) to Ostia, Rome's port. St Paul was by tradition buried beside it, where San Paolo fuori le Mura stands.
Via Amerina	c. 241 BC		Baccanae on the Via Cassia → Perusia (Perugia)	Road leaving the Via Cassia at Baccanae and running north through Nepet, Falerii Novi and Horta to Ameria, Tuder and Perusia. It was probably laid out after the destruction of Falerii Veteres in 241 BC; in the early Middle Ages it was the spine of the Byzantine corridor between Rome and Ravenna.
Via Popilia	c. 132 BC	Publius Popillius Laenas	Capua → Rhegium (Reggio Calabria)	Road from Capua through Nola, Salernum, the Vallo di Diano and Consentia to Rhegium on the Strait of Messina, 321 miles according to the Polla inscription (Lapis Pollae). Usually credited to Publius Popillius Laenas, consul 132 BC, though some assign it to the praetor Titus Annius Rufus.
Via Popilia (Ariminum–Adria)	132 BC	Publius Popillius Laenas	Ariminum (Rimini) → Hadria (Adria)	Built by the consul Publius Popillius Laenas in 132 BC (attested by a milestone found near Adria) from Ariminum along the Adriatic through Ravenna to Hadria. With the Via Annia it formed the coast route from the Via Flaminia to Aquileia.
Via Annia	c. 131 BC	Titus Annius Rufus	Hadria (Adria) → Aquileia	Road through Venetia from Hadria via Patavium, Altinum and Concordia to Aquileia, continuing the Adriatic Via Popilia. Usually attributed to the praetor Titus Annius Rufus (131 BC), though Titus Annius Luscus, consul 153 BC, is also proposed.
Via Aemilia Scauri	109 BC	Marcus Aemilius Scaurus	Pisae (Pisa) → Dertona (Tortona)	Built by the censor Marcus Aemilius Scaurus in 109 BC, prolonging the Via Aurelia from Pisae and Luna through Genua to Vada Sabatia and thence over the Apennines to Dertona, where it met the Via Postumia.
Via Julia Augusta	13 BC	Augustus	Placentia (Piacenza) → The river Varus (Var), continuing to Arelate (Arles)	Laid out by Augustus in 13 BC, merging the Via Aemilia Scauri and the Via Postumia: from Placentia over the Apennines to Vada Sabatia and along the Ligurian coast by Albingaunum and Albintimilium to the Var, continuing to Arelate to join the Via Domitia. The Trophy of the Alps (6 BC) stands at its highest point.
Via Flavia	c. AD 78	Vespasian	Tergeste (Trieste) → Pola (Pula)	Built under Vespasian in AD 78–79 along the west coast of Istria from Tergeste via Parentium to Pola, continuing towards Dalmatia.
Via Domitiana	AD 95	Domitian	Sinuessa (near Mondragone) → Puteoli (Pozzuoli)	Built by Domitian in AD 95 across the sandy, marshy Campanian coast from Sinuessa on the Via Appia via Volturnum, Liternum and Cumae to the great port of Puteoli, sparing travellers the detour through Capua.
Via Severiana	c. AD 198	Septimius Severus	Portus → Tarracina (Terracina)	Coast road of Latium, built or restored by Septimius Severus c. AD 198, from Portus and Ostia along the shore through Laurentum, Lavinium, Antium and Circeii to Tarracina, about 80 Roman miles.
Via Clodia			Rome → Saturnia	Road of the 3rd century BC through southern Etruria, lying between the Via Aurelia and the Via Cassia (with which it shared its first miles), by Lake Bracciano, Blera and Tuscana to Saturnia. It served the local Etruscan towns rather than long-distance traffic.
Via Nomentana			Rome → Nomentum (Mentana)	Road from Rome (Porta Collina, later Porta Nomentana) across the Anio at the Pons Nomentanus to Nomentum, 14 miles out, joining the Via Salaria at Eretum. Originally called Via Ficulensis because it first ran only to Ficulea.
Via Tiburtina			Rome → Tibur (Tivoli)	Road from the Porta Esquilina (later through the Porta Tiburtina of the Aurelian Wall) to Tibur, c. 20 Roman miles, passing the travertine quarries, the Aquae Albulae and Hadrian's Villa. It was continued across the Apennines as the Via Valeria.
Via Valeria			Tibur (Tivoli) → Aternum (Pescara)	Continuation of the Via Tiburtina from Tibur up the Anio valley to the Latin colonies of Carsioli and Alba Fucens and on to Cerfennia; attributed either to Marcus Valerius Maximus (censor 307 BC) or Marcus Valerius Messalla (censor 154 BC). Claudius extended it in AD 48–49 through Corfinium to Aternum as the Via Claudia Valeria.
Via Praenestina			Rome → Praeneste (Palestrina)	Road from the Porta Esquilina (later the Porta Praenestina, now Porta Maggiore) east to Gabii and Praeneste, 23 miles from Rome. Its first stretch was the Via Gabina; the Republican bridge at the ninth mile, the Ponte di Nona, still stands.
Via Portuensis		Claudius	Rome → Portus	Road on the right bank of the Tiber from Trastevere to Portus, the harbour begun by Claudius in AD 42 and enlarged by Trajan; it partly replaced the older Via Campana. It gave its name to the Porta Portuensis of the Aurelian Wall.
Via Campana (Rome)			Rome → Campus Salinarum (salt pans north of the Tiber mouth)	Very old road along the right bank of the Tiber to the Campus Salinarum, the salt pans north of the river mouth; with the Via Salaria it formed the prehistoric salt route. The grove of the Arval Brethren lay at its fifth milestone.
Via Ardeatina			Rome → Ardea	Road south from Rome to Ardea, city of Turnus's Rutuli in the Aeneid, branching off near the start of the Via Appia. The catacombs of Domitilla lie beside it.
Via Laurentina			Rome → Laurentum and Lavinium (Pratica di Mare)	Road south from Rome, diverging from the Via Ostiensis, to the ager Laurens and Lavinium on the Latin coast. Pliny the Younger says his Laurentine villa could be reached by either this road or the Ostiensis.
Via Collatina			Rome → Collatia (Lunghezza)	Minor road east from Rome to Collatia, the town of Tarquinius Collatinus and Lucretia, about 10 miles out. Frontinus places the springs of the Aqua Virgo at its eighth milestone.
Via Consularis Campana			Puteoli (Pozzuoli) → Capua	Road linking the port of Puteoli with Capua and so with the Via Appia, leaving through the Montagna Spaccata cutting near Quarto. Before the Via Domitiana it was the main route between Rome and Puteoli.
Via Caecilia			Via Salaria, 35 miles from Rome → Hadria (Atri) and the Adriatic coast	Road diverging from the Via Salaria at the 35th milestone and crossing the Apennines via Amiternum to Hadria near the Adriatic, with a branch to Interamnia Praetuttiorum (Teramo) and Castrum Novum. Built by a Caecilius Metellus, perhaps Lucius Caecilius Metellus Diadematus, consul 117 BC.

Roads of the provinces

Road	Begun	Builder	Route	Notes
Via Egnatia	c. 146 BC	Gnaeus Egnatius	Dyrrachium (Durrës) → Byzantium (Istanbul)	Built soon after 146 BC by Gnaeus Egnatius, proconsul of Macedonia, from Dyrrachium and Apollonia on the Adriatic across Illyria, Macedonia and Thrace via Thessalonica, Amphipolis and Philippi; at first to the Hebrus, later to Byzantium (c. 1,100 km). It continued the Via Appia beyond the Adriatic crossing.
Watling Street	c. AD 43		Rutupiae (Richborough) and Dubris (Dover) → Viroconium (Wroxeter)	The first great road of Roman Britain, laid out from AD 43 on the line of a native trackway: from the Channel ports of Rutupiae and Dubris via Durovernum to Londinium, then by Verulamium to Viroconium (Wroxeter). It crossed the Fosse Way at Venonae (High Cross); the name is Old English.
Via Domitia	118 BC	Gnaeus Domitius Ahenobarbus	The Alps at the Col de Montgenèvre → The Pyrenees at the Col de Panissars	The first Roman road in Gaul, built from 118 BC by the proconsul Gnaeus Domitius Ahenobarbus, conqueror of the Allobroges and Arverni: from the Col de Montgenèvre across the Rhône at Ugernum to Nemausus, Narbo and the Pyrenees, where the Via Augusta took over. It followed the legendary route of Hercules and Hannibal's line of march.
Via Agrippa	c. 20 BC	Agrippa	Lugdunum (Lyon) → Gesoriacum (Boulogne-sur-Mer)	The road system of Gaul laid out by Agrippa (c. 39–38 or 20–19 BC) with Lugdunum as its hub. Strabo lists four arms: to Aquitania and the Santones, to the Rhine, to the Ocean (the Channel at Gesoriacum, drawn here) and south to Narbonensis and Massilia.
Via Augusta	c. 8 BC	Augustus	The Pyrenees at the Col de Panissars → Gades (Cádiz)	The main highway of Roman Spain, c. 1,500 km, rebuilt and renamed by Augustus c. 8–2 BC on the line of the older Via Herculea: from the Pyrenees, where it met the Via Domitia, through Tarraco, Saguntum and Valentia, then inland to Castulo, Corduba, Hispalis and Gades.
Via Claudia Augusta	c. AD 47	Claudius	Altinum (Altino) on the Adriatic → The Danube near Augusta Vindelicorum (Augsburg)	Road across the Alps from Altinum (with a second branch from Hostilia on the Po) up the Adige by Tridentum, over the Reschen and Fern passes to Augusta Vindelicorum and the Danube. Two milestones record that Claudius completed in AD 46–47 the route his father Drusus had opened in 15 BC.
Fosse Way	c. AD 47		Isca Dumnoniorum (Exeter) → Lindum (Lincoln)	Road running c. 370 km diagonally across Britain from Isca Dumnoniorum via Aquae Sulis, Corinium and Ratae to Lindum, never more than a few miles from a straight line. It marks the temporary frontier of c. AD 47; the name comes from Latin fossa, 'ditch'.
Stanegate	c. AD 80	Agricola	Coria (Corbridge) → Luguvalium (Carlisle)	East–west road across northern Britain from Corbridge on the Tyne to Carlisle, built c. AD 80 in the governorship of Agricola, with forts including Vindolanda. Under Trajan it was in effect the frontier, replaced in the 120s by Hadrian's Wall; the name is medieval ('stone road').
Dere Street	c. AD 80	Agricola	Eboracum (York) → The Firth of Forth at Inveresk	Road from Eboracum north via Cataractonium, Vinovia and Corbridge, then across the Cheviots by Bremenium to Trimontium (Newstead) and the Forth; laid out during Agricola's advance c. AD 79–81. The name is Anglo-Saxon, from the kingdom of Deira.
Via Militaris			Singidunum (Belgrade) → Byzantium/Constantinople (Istanbul)	The main land route between the Danube provinces and the East, c. 1,000 km from Singidunum via Viminacium, Naissus, Serdica, Philippopolis and Hadrianopolis to Byzantium. Built in the 1st century AD, it carried armies and emperors throughout late antiquity.
Via Maris			Pelusium, Egypt → Damascus	Not an ancient Roman road-name but a modern label (from Isaiah 9:1 in the Vulgate) for the immemorial trade route from Egypt along the coast of Sinai and Palestine, through the Megiddo pass to Galilee and Damascus. Under Rome it was paved in sections and guarded by the legionary base at Legio.
Via de la Plata			Emerita Augusta (Mérida) → Asturica Augusta (Astorga)	The 'Iter ab Emerita Asturicam' of the Antonine Itinerary: the western axis of Roman Spain, from Emerita Augusta via Norba, Capera and Salmantica to Asturica Augusta, with a southern continuation to Hispalis. Its modern name probably comes from Arabic al-balat ('paved way').
Ermine Street			Londinium (London) → Eboracum (York)	Road from Londinium north through Durovigutum and Durobrivae to the legionary fortress (later colonia) at Lindum, continuing to the Humber ferry and Eboracum. It was built in the decades after AD 43 as the Ninth Legion advanced north; the name is Old English.
Via Valeria (Messana–Lilybaeum)	c. 210 BC	Marcus Valerius Laevinus	Messana (Messina) → Lilybaeum (Marsala)	The main Roman road of Sicily, along the north coast from Messana through Tyndaris, Cephaloedium and Panormus to Lilybaeum. Strabo names it; it is attributed to Marcus Valerius Laevinus, consul 210 BC.
Via Agrippa (Lugdunum–Colonia Agrippina)	c. 20 BC	Agrippa	Lugdunum (Lyon) → Colonia Agrippina (Cologne)	Rhine arm of Agrippa's Gallic road network: from Lugdunum up the Saône to Cabillonum and Andematunnum, then by Tullum, Divodurum and Augusta Treverorum to the Rhine at Cologne. It was the supply line of the Rhine armies.
Via Agrippa (Lugdunum–Mediolanum Santonum)	c. 20 BC	Agrippa	Lugdunum (Lyon) → Mediolanum Santonum (Saintes)	Western arm of Agrippa's Gallic road network, from Lugdunum over the Massif Central by Augustonemetum and Augustoritum to Mediolanum Santonum (Saintes), first capital of Gallia Aquitania.
Via Agrippa (Lugdunum–Arelate)	c. 20 BC	Agrippa	Lugdunum (Lyon) → Arelate (Arles)	Southern arm of Agrippa's Gallic road network, down the left bank of the Rhône from Lugdunum by Vienna, Valentia, Arausio and Avennio to Arelate, where it met the roads to Massilia, Italy and Spain.
Via Sebaste	6 BC	Augustus	Perge → Iconium (Konya) and Lystra	Built in 6 BC by Cornutus Arruntius Aquila, governor of Galatia, in Augustus's name ('Sebastos' = Augustus), to tie together the Augustan colonies of Pisidia (Comama, Cremna, Antioch, Lystra and others) and pacify the Taurus highlands. Paul and Barnabas probably followed it from Perge to Pisidian Antioch.
Via Gemina	c. AD 14	Legio XIII Gemina	Aquileia → Emona (Ljubljana)	Road from Aquileia across the Isonzo at Pons Sonti, up the Vipava (Frigidus) valley and over the Ad Pirum pass to Nauportus and Emona, built c. AD 14 by the Thirteenth Legion. It was the gateway from Italy to Pannonia; the battle of the Frigidus (AD 394) was fought on it.
Via Nova (Bracara–Asturica)	c. AD 80		Bracara Augusta (Braga) → Asturica Augusta (Astorga)	Road XVIII of the Antonine Itinerary, opened under Titus and Domitian c. AD 79–80 between Bracara Augusta and Asturica Augusta through the mountains of Gallaecia. It has the greatest concentration of surviving Roman milestones in the Empire.
Via Nova Traiana	c. AD 114	Trajan	Bostra (Bosra) → Aila (Aqaba) on the Red Sea	Built AD 111–114 under the governor Gaius Claudius Severus after Trajan's annexation of Nabataea as the province of Arabia (AD 106), from Bostra via Philadelphia and Petra to Aila; its milestones say 'a finibus Syriae usque ad mare Rubrum'. It followed the old King's Highway.
Via Hadriana	AD 137	Hadrian	Antinoöpolis on the Nile → Berenice on the Red Sea	Road across the Egyptian Eastern Desert from Antinoöpolis to the Red Sea and then south along the coast by Myos Hormos to Berenice, opened in AD 137 with wells, stations and garrisons; the last major Roman road built in Egypt.
Via Raetia	c. AD 200	Septimius Severus	Verona → Augusta Vindelicorum (Augsburg)	Road upgraded under Septimius Severus c. AD 200 from Verona up the Adige and Eisack valleys, over the Brenner Pass to Veldidena and on by Parthanum to Augusta Vindelicorum. Shorter than the Via Claudia Augusta, it became the main route between Italy and Raetia.
Strata Diocletiana	c. AD 298	Diocletian	Sura on the Euphrates → Damascus	Military road and chain of forts laid out under Diocletian after the Persian war of 297–298, running along the desert edge from Sura on the Euphrates via Resafa and Palmyra to Damascus and on towards northern Arabia. It formed the backbone of the late Roman Limes Arabicus.
Via Aquitania			Narbo Martius (Narbonne) → Burdigala (Bordeaux)	Road laid out after the foundation of Narbo (118 BC), branching from the Via Domitia and running via Carcaso and Tolosa down the Garonne to Burdigala, c. 400 km; it linked the Mediterranean with the Atlantic.
Via Belgica			Colonia Agrippina (Cologne) → Bagacum (Bavay), continuing to Gesoriacum (Boulogne-sur-Mer)	Modern name for the main east–west road of northern Gaul, from Cologne via Iuliacum, Coriovallum, the Meuse crossing at Maastricht and Atuatuca Tungrorum to Bagacum, and on to the Channel at Gesoriacum. It was probably laid out under Augustus.
Via Julia Augusta (Aquileia–Aguntum)			Aquileia → Aguntum (near Lienz)	Road from Aquileia up the Tagliamento and But valleys by Iulium Carnicum, over the Plöcken Pass (Monte Croce Carnico) to Loncium and Aguntum in Noricum; Roman rock inscriptions survive at the pass. Not to be confused with the Ligurian road of the same name.
Via Pontica			Byzantium (Istanbul) → The Danube delta	Road along the west coast of the Black Sea from Byzantium through the Greek cities of Thrace and Moesia Inferior (Apollonia, Anchialus, Mesembria, Odessus, Callatis, Tomis, Histria) to the Danube delta.
Stane Street			Londinium (London) → Noviomagus Reginorum (Chichester)	Road from Londinium to Noviomagus Reginorum (Chichester), built within a few decades of AD 43. Its first stretch is aimed precisely from London Bridge at Chichester's east gate, a classic demonstration of Roman surveying.

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