The Romans built 80,000 km of roads across their empire. In Italy, you can STILL WALK on some of them — original basalt blocks, 2,000+ years old, worn smooth by legions, merchants, emperors, and pilgrims. The Via Appia Antica outside Rome is the most famous (free, 16km, Sundays closed to traffic). The Via Francigena is the medieval pilgrimage route from Canterbury to Rome — the Italian section crosses Tuscany and Lazio through some of the most beautiful landscape in Europe.
1. Via Appia Antica (Rome, 16km from Porta San Sebastiano to Frattocchie): The "Queen of Roads" — built 312 BC by Appius Claudius Caecus. The first 5km (from Terme di Caracalla area): Catacombs of San Callisto, Tomb of Cecilia Metella (circular mausoleum, €5), Parco degli Acquedotti. Sundays: The road closes to traffic → walk, bike, or run on 2,300-year-old basalt blocks. Free. Bike rental at Appia Antica Regional Park visitor center (€3/h).
2. Via Francigena (Italian section, ~1,000km, Aosta/Gran San Bernardo → Rome): The medieval pilgrimage route. Walk the BEST 7-day section: San Miniato → Siena → San Quirico d'Orcia → Radicofani → Bolsena → Viterbo → Rome. Through Tuscan hills, Val d'Orcia cypresses, volcanic lakes. 15-25km/day. Pilgrim hostels €10-20/night. Credential (pilgrim passport) stamped at each stop. Arrive at St. Peter's → receive the Testimonium (pilgrim certificate). viefrancigene.org for routes, accommodations, credentials.
3. Via Claudia Augusta (Altinate route, Veneto→Austria): Roman road from Altino (Venice lagoon) across the Alps to the Danube. The Italian section: Altino → Feltre → Trento → Bolzano → Brenner Pass. Now a CYCLING route (paved bike path following the original road, 700km). The flat Veneto section (Altino→Feltre, 80km) is an easy 2-3 day ride. 4. Via Emilia (Rimini→Piacenza, 260km): Built 187 BC — still the MAIN road across Emilia-Romagna (now SS9). Walk the sections between cities: Bologna→Modena (40km through farmland). The road DEFINED the region — "Emilia-Romagna" is named after this road.
5. Via Salaria (Rome→Adriatic coast, 242km): The "salt road" — one of Rome's oldest, used to transport salt from the Adriatic. The Sabine Hills section (Rome→Rieti, 80km) passes through medieval villages, olive groves, and the Farfa Abbey (Benedictine, 8th century). Walkable in 3-4 days. Bonus: Via Domitiana / Via Domiziana (Naples coast): Roman road connecting Naples to Pozzuoli — sections visible in the Campi Flegrei archaeological area, including the original road surface with chariot ruts.