More about: Via Appia Tours in Rome
The Appian Way in Rome is estimated to be around 2,300 years old. It was designed in 318 B.C. by the Roman consul Appius Claudius Caecus, with the aim of connecting Rome to Capua. Later, it was extended to the present-day city of Brindisi, and from there Rome was connected via the Appian Way to Greece, Egypt, and the East, facilitating military and commercial expeditions.
Today, you can explore Rome’s Appian Way on foot or by bicycle. It is a wonderful, peaceful stroll with many stories to discover. It’s a journey to be taken at a leisurely pace, admiring the landscapes and monuments that unfold along the sides of the Via Appia. There are many things to see and do in Rome, and exploring the Via Appia on a tour is one of the best.
Appian Way and San Callixtus Catacombs Guided Tour
Explore the Appian Way and the Catacombs on a historical tour from Rome
Walk along one of Rome’s oldest paths and explore the Catacombs of Saint Callixtus on this 3-hour guided tour. The tour includes bus transportation and a professional guide.
This guided tour of the Via Appia and the Catacombs of Saint Callixtus is ideal for those who want to discover the oldest and most enigmatic Rome. Over the course of about 3 hours, you’ll explore key sites in the Roman countryside with a guide, from the Circus of Maxentius to the Mausoleum of Cecilia Metella, as well as visiting the interior of the city’s most famous catacombs.
The tour includes bus transportation from central Rome, admission tickets, headphones, and an expert guide. A perfect way to get away from the urban hustle and bustle and delve into the city’s Christian and Roman past.
Recommended if... you’re interested in ancient history and are looking for a comfortable, guided tour off the beaten path of central Rome.
Rome Ancient Appian Way, Aqueducts and Catacombs E-Bike Tour
Tour of the Via Appia and the Roman aqueducts by electric bike
Travel 27 km through history along the Via Apia on an active e-bike tour. Enjoy the rural surroundings, see Roman ruins, and, if you choose the longer route, visit the Catacombs of Saint Callixtus as well.
This electric bike tour along the Appian Way lets you enjoy Rome’s most natural and ancient side in an active yet effortless way. During the tour, you’ll cycle past ancient ruins, aqueducts, the Circus of Maxentius, and sites like Porta San Sebastiano, all accompanied by a professional guide in small groups.
You can choose between a 4-hour tour or a more comprehensive 6-hour tour that also includes a guided visit inside the Catacombs of San Calixto. A perfect option for those who want history, nature, and physical activity without the hassle.
Recommended if... you prefer to explore Rome actively and enjoy the outdoors while discovering impressive archaeological remains.
Types and prices of guided tours of the Appian Way in Rome
There are several options for guided tours of Rome ’s Via Appia, and a guided tour is truly well worth it. You can choose to take the tour on foot or by bike. Bike tours can be private or group tours and are generally on electric bikes.
You can opt for regular bikes, but keep in mind that the route covers many kilometers, and you need to be very experienced at cycling to handle such a long trip.
Prices range from 50 to 95 euros depending on the tour’s duration and whether it’s private or group-based. These tours last between 4 and 5 hours and include insurance (you should check what coverage is available).
You also have the option to choose a tour that, in addition to the Via Appia, includes other attractions. In this case, you can opt for a private tour by car, with a guide and driver, for approximately 170 euros.
The advantage of these tours is that admission fees are usually included in the price, and you get priority access so you don’t have to wait in line. By skipping the lines, you save a lot of time to enjoy the activities. This is undoubtedly one of the best tours in Rome.
The start of the Via Appia tour in Rome at the Porta San Sebastiano
The tour of the Appian Way begins at the Porta San Sebastiano in Rome. Also known as the Porta Appia, it is the largest of the structures that form part of the Aurelian Walls.
Fortunately, it is in excellent condition. Currently, the Museum of the Walls is located at the Porta San Sebastiano, and it is well worth a visit.
Keep in mind that you must pay an admission fee to enter the Museum of the Walls , and the lines can sometimes be long. The museum is divided into three sections: ancient, medieval, and modern, showcasing the different stages of the city’s fortifications in an interactive and educational way.
If you have a special interest in architecture, you’ll really enjoy this museum, as it’s very well organized and the information provided to visitors, along with the educational resources available, is excellent.
From here, the tour continues along Rome’s Via Appia until reaching the second point of interest, the Quo Vadis Church.
Next stop on the tour: The Church of Domine Quo Vadis
Following the route of Rome’s Via Appia, you’ll arrive at the Church of Domine Quo Vadis. It is believed that, in this church, Jesus—already dead—appeared to Peter while he was trying to flee from the crucifixion. Upon seeing this apparition, Peter is said to have returned to Rome to accept his martyrdom and die by crucifixion.
The Domine Quo Vadis Church was built in the 17th century on the site of a small chapel dating back to the 9th century, and there are beautiful frescoes to admire inside.
The frescoes depict the Crucifixion of Christ and the martyrdom of Saint Peter. If you’re interested in religious tourism, you can also visit the Sistine Chapel, one of Rome’s must-see attractions.
Are the Catacombs of Saint Callixtus included in the guided tours of the Appian Way?
Yes, the guided tour of the Via Appia also includes the Catacombs of Saint Callixtus. However, to visit them on the bike tour, you’ll need to book the 6-hour tour option.
Along Rome’s Via Appia, you’ll find numerous tombs and catacombs because, in ancient times, it was forbidden to bury the dead within the city walls. One of these burial sites is the Catacombs of San Calixto, which house more than 170,000 tombs—the best-preserved along the entire Via Appia—and the visit is included in the walking tour.
It’s a highly recommended visit, as there are numerous tombs of Christian martyrs and saints. If cemeteries make you uncomfortable, you might want to skip this activity.
Next stops on the guided tours of Rome’s Via Appia
The Basilica of Saint Sebastian
A short distance past the Catacombs of Saint Callixtus (San Callisto) lies the Basilica of Saint Sebastian. This basilica also houses a vast catacomb complex, accessible via a staircase in the right aisle of the basilica.
The Catacombs of Saint Sebastian became a Christian burial site in the late 2nd century AD. Previously, they had been used as a pagan cemetery.
Remember that there are skip-the-line tickets available. They cost a little more, but it’s worth paying the extra fee if it saves you hours of time by skipping Rome’s longest lines. If you’re staying in Rome for a few days, you can also visit the Vatican Catacombs.
About 200 meters ahead of the Catacombs of Saint Sebastian, you’ll find the next stop: the ruins of Villa di Massenzio.
The Ruins of Villa di Massenzio on the Via Appia in Rome
The ruins of Villa di Massenzio on the Appian Way in Rome consist of three main buildings: the circus, the palace, and the mausoleum. It is a very interesting architectural complex well worth visiting.
The dynastic mausoleum is also known as the Tomb of Romulus, as it is believed he was buried there. Whether or not the story about Romulus’s burial here is true, it is a magnificent monument, and together with the other two structures, they form a harmonious complex of sober, timeless beauty.
Immediately after passing Romulus’s Tomb, you will reach the sixth stop on the tour of Rome’s Via Appia: the Mausoleum of Cecilia Metella.
The Mausoleum of Cecilia Metella on the Appian Way in Rome
When you reach this point, you will see one of the most iconic mausoleums of the Roman era. The Mausoleum of Cecilia Metella is one of the most impressive funerary monuments in Rome. The enormous and beautiful structure served as the tomb of Cecilia Metella, daughter of Consul Quintus Metellus, conqueror of Crete.
The Mausoleum of Cecilia Metella was incorporated into the castle by the Caetani family as the main tower and has retained its imposing appearance to this day.
Continue walking, and after a few minutes you will find, on your right, the seventh point of interest on the Via Appia tour in Rome: the ruins of the Frontespizio, and a little further on, the medieval farm of Santa Maria Nova and the pyramidal tomb.
The ruins of the Frontespizio on the Via Appia in Rome, the medieval farm of Santa Maria Nova, and the pyramidal tomb
These three monuments are located very close to one another, so it won’t take you long to visit them. The ruins of the Frontespizio are a small, well-preserved complex of ruins. They are believed to date back to approximately the 1st century B.C. A few meters further on is the medieval farm of Santa Maria Nova.
Continue walking a few meters and you’ll see a pyramid-shaped structure ahead. Little is known about it so far, but due to the tomb’s large size, there has been much speculation about its owner, though none of the theories has been confirmed.
Continuing along the Via Appia in Rome, about 100 meters further on, you will find the eighth stop, consisting of the so-called Tumuli degli Orazi, and 150 meters from this, you will see the Villa dei Quintili.
Tumuli degli Orazi and Villa dei Quintili on the Appian Way in Rome
The Tumuli degli Orazi funerary complex consists of two tombs similar to the Etruscan tombs found in the Banditaccia necropolis. It is believed they may date from the 2nd to 3rd century B.C.
Although many theories have been proposed regarding these tombs, the only thing that has been confirmed so far is that one of them is empty and there is no definitive evidence regarding who might have been buried there.
In contrast to the austerity of the Tumuli degli Orazi, you will find the Villa dei Quintili 150 meters further on. It is a magnificent residential complex, the largest in the suburbs of Rome.
The Villa of the Quintili belonged to the Quintilius brothers, Roman consuls in 151 AD.
The brothers were executed for alleged treason and conspiracy on the orders of Emperor Commodus, and the villa was confiscated. After the execution of the Quintilius brothers, the villa continued to be used as a residence by several Roman emperors, including Commodus.
Continuing the tour, you will arrive at the ninth stop, the Casal Rotondo.
The Casal Rotondo
Casal Rotondo is the largest circular mausoleum on Rome’s Via Appia and one of the largest in Europe. This enormous mausoleum was once covered in travertine marble and is believed to have been built around the 1st century BC.
Unfortunately, despite the many studies that have been conducted, little more is known about its construction, origins, and original owners.
Some time ago, a fragmented inscription bearing the name Cotta was found. This discovery has led archaeologist Luigi Canina to believe that it is a funerary monument erected by Messalino Cotta, son of the consul Messalla Corvinus, a lawyer and man of letters from the time of Augustus, but this theory has not been confirmed.
Whoever the owner may have been, there is no doubt that this is a magnificent monument, and the Casal Rotondo is one of my favorite stops on the Appian Way in Rome.
Just a few meters away is the tenth and final stop on the tour of the Appian Way in Rome: the Torre Selce.
The Selce Tower
It is believed that, in the 12th century, the Astalli family used the foundations of an ancient Roman tomb as the base for a massive tower known today as the Torre Selce. It is located on the Via Appia, near the end of the tour.
During the Middle Ages, Rome’s ancient monuments suffered severe deterioration because they were used as quarries, providing people with cheap bricks and stone.
Over the centuries, the monuments along the Via Appia were successively looted, losing most of their riches. The Selce Tower did not escape this fate, and in addition to the natural deterioration over time, successive looting has stripped it of the splendor it must have possessed in its heyday.
If you look into the distance, you can see the aqueduct that supplied the Villa of the Quintili. The view is magnificent; it is an extraordinary feat of engineering and a sight of uncommon beauty.
Is it possible to walk the Via Appia with children?
Walking the Via Appia in Rome is a wonderful experience, but it involves many hours of walking. Walking this far with young children isn’t recommended if they aren’t used to it. If you want to do it, bring a stroller so you can help the little ones when they get very tired.
Don’t forget to bring water and snacks for the little ones. Also, don’t forget hats and sunscreen.
Walking the Via Appia with children can be easier outside of the hottest and coldest months. If you’re traveling to Rome with children, take the weather into account when planning your trip; try to visit during the best time to travel to Rome.
Tips for taking a tour of Rome’s Via Appia
- Since this is a long walk, remember to stay hydrated (bring a few bottles of water with you), wear comfortable clothing (sportswear is even better), and appropriate footwear (avoid sandals and don’t even think about wearing heels).
- The best thing to do is to book tickets in advance for the attractions along the Via Appia you want to visit to save time during your trip and ensure tickets are available. Always opt for priority tickets—waiting in lines in Rome can be really tedious.
- Plan your trip in advance and make sure to book your tickets—at least for the main attractions—well in advance.
- If this is your first trip to Rome, try to plan your itineraries with extra time in case of unforeseen events. The key to an optimal trip lies in advance planning.
- Keep these 10 tips in mind when organizing your trip to Rome, and you’ll see that you save a lot of time when planning your visit.