Museo delle Murra and other Rome, Italy Off The Beaten Path Tips

Step back in time and ramble along the ramparts of the city walls built bu Aurelian. This museum gives you an overview of the walls with help of prints, drawings and models of the defensive walls. The museum is housed in the well preserved Porta San Sebastiano, which you can climb to the top. From there you'll have a great view over the start of the Via Appia Antica.

Open: Tue-Sun 9:00-19:00
Entrance: EUR 2,60 or 1,60 (reduced for students and children)

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Phone: 06-70475284
Other Contact: Via di Porta San Sebastiano 18

The first true paved road outside of Rome was the Via Appia. It was constructed in 312BC by the Censor. The first part of the road was from Porta di San Sebastiano, in which the Museo della Murra is now housed, to Capua, later it was extended to Brindise, on the coast of Puglia.

We walked the Appia Antica all the way from the Porta San Sebastiano, passed the Tomba di Cecilia Metella and on to the next crossing where the Appia meets the Via di Tor Carbone. A walk of 7 kilometres. The beginning of the Appian Way isn't too interesting, just dangerous, because of all the traffic and no sidewalk, but halfway it's getting more and more interesting.

I would advise if you want to walk on the road do it on a Sunday (no traffic on Sunday because it is a regional park), or skip the first part of the road and start at the Catacombe di San Sebastiano and walk to the Via di Tor Carbone. This walk is very safe first of all and covers all the interesting bits. From a Catacombe, to the Tomb of Cecilia Metella, the old stones on the road and the Circo Massenzio, you will have the total experience!

Check out the travelogues for more tips and pics.

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Website: http://www.parcoappiaantica.org

Over 60 martyrs and early popes are buried in these catacombs, covering an area over 15ha. In the 20 km of tunnels explored so far, archeologists have found the supelchres of some 500.000 people, as well as Greek and Latin inscriptions and frescoes.

Unfortunately we arrived to late to visit the catacombes, so on the picture you see something of the gardens near the entrance. The catacombs are closed between 12:00 and 14:30, so keep that in mind when you want to visit them.

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Phone: 06-51301580
Website: http://www.catacombe.roma.it/
Other Contact: Via Appia Antica 110

Archeologists believe that this stadium, built by Maxentius around 309AD, was in fact never finished. It is well preserved, and chariot starting stalls can still be made out.
The circus is a really nice area. It is very peaceful and quiet and you can just about sit here allday enjoying the silence and the nature.

Open: Tue-Sun 9:00-19:00 (to 17:00 Oct-Mar)
Entrance: EUR 2,60 or 1,60 (reduced for students and children)

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Phone: 06-7801324
Other Contact: Via Appia Antica 153

This grand tomb was used as a fortress by the Caetani family in the early 14th century. It was built way ealier for Cecilia Metella. Het father and husband were very rich, and were thus able to built such a big tomb for her. Hardly anything is known about Cecilia though.

Open: Tue-Sat 9:00-18:00 (to 16:00 Nov-Mar), Sun-Mon 9:00-13:00

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Phone: 06-7802465
Website: Via Appia Antica, a but further then
Other Contact: the Circo di Massenzio