Italy Trip 2024 - Capua and the lower Via Appia
We survived our day of driving - thank you for your prayers! No accidents or incidents, the driver only wanted to cry one time - but she didn’t !
It wasn’t the best day in terms of seeing what was on our agenda. We discovered that it would take far more time than we allowed to trace all of the remains from Paul’s era along the via Appia. Also discovered that it is slow going through the coastal towns along the way. ALSO got scammed twice - knew it was happening but couldn’t really stop it. A little scam with the car rental insurance and then from the cabby on our way back to the apartment from the regional airport where we rented the car.
But we did get to see some things. We drove directly to Capua where the road from Pozzuoli turns to the via Appia. We walked through the amphitheater there which was where Sparticus and his gladiators started their rebellion in about the 73 BC.
Heading out of Capua are the remains of Hadrians arch - one of the 3 arches anyway. Also a bridge built by Emperor Trajan that was destroyed but has some remains in the water and a new bridge in the same place.
Next we stopped at the remains of Minturnae, a Roman colony established in 295 BC. The Via Appia crosses the forum here. Nearby are the beautiful remains of an aqueduct, which we just sort of stumbled across.
Next, outside of Formiae, we saw the remains of the San Remigio fountain where travelers could water their animals and themselves and refill water skins.
At this point we started loosing the daylight and fighting traffic - so that’s it. Done driving in Italy for now!! Thankful to be back in our little Air B and B! Tomorrow the Via Appia just outside of Rome.
Blessings! PB, Margery and Jacob
Basement of the Capua colosseum - second largest after the colosseum in Rome. Built in 31 BC and restored several times in the following centuries.
