Traveling north from Rome, one of the historic highlights, similar to an open-air museum, is the Via Flaminia. The creation of the e Via Appia (Appian Way) in 312 BC, which ran southeast of Rome, stood as one of four great roads built in the 2nd century BC that radiated out from the city. Connecting the Adriatic and Tyrrhenian coasts, it served as a vital conduit to Gaul in present-day France.
Named after Gaio Flaminio Nepote, a Roman consul, the road existed before the creation of the Roman Empire. Construction, expedited by the efforts of hundreds of slaves, took only two years. Starting near the Roman Forum and Coliseum, the road provided access to the agricultural breadbasket of Pianura Padana through the river Po. The accessibility to agricultural markets became a double-edged sword, as the Byzantines later used it as a ready route to attack Rome.
For modern-day travelers, the Via Flaminia presents a scenic country drive that remains a vital conduit from Rome to the Adriatic Sea and the beach destination of Rimini. Various ancient bridges and early tunnels remain in use, providing insight into the engineering prowess of the early Romans. Among the highlights is a still extant viaduct near the Abbey of Petra Petrusa. Another is the supporting masonry as the road approaches Furlo Gorge. The gorge had a tunnel built from 70 to 76 AD, which made crossing easier, and is still in use.
