Sito Internet Progetto FIRB Appia Antica

The research project propose a complex, multi- and inter-disciplinary analysis aimed to the historical and cultural reconstruction of the role and meaning of a main roman road over the centuries, in relationship with the territories and considering the influences they could have determined. Among the main goals is the elaboration of a methodological protocol which, on the basis of this first experience accomplished at the Appia route track, could be thus adopted for the study and valorisation of ancient roads. The "Regina viarum" was chosen because it was the most important road to Southern Italy and the main connection for journeys from Italy to Greece, the Near East and Africa. At the Aurunci pass, between the modern villages of Fondi and Itri, a study area was identified to apply and test both acknowledged and experimental methods, leading sectorial and joined research activities. This is among the most rough and spectacular sector of the whole road track, where clearly understandable are the geomorphological, historical and monumental characteristics which made it an emblematic case-study for the comprehension of the potentiality given by the territory to the road, and vice versa, through the ages. Specialists in different disciplines carried on research activities including historical and archaeological studies, geological and geomorphological analyses, geophysical prospections, topographic surveys, aerial and terrestrial photogrammetric restitutions. The description of all methodologies and the main results of the research project are illustrated in this website.