Description
An Appian Way e-bike tour is a good way to see the Roman countryside without a car. You pedal a mountain bike or an electric one, fitted with puncture-resistant tires and a comfy saddle, led by an expert guide. A helmet and a bottle of water come with it. The route is 27 km, about 60% of it off-road, and the level is intermediate.
From the city, the tour leaves through St. Sebastian's gate and joins the Appian Way, 2,300 years old and lined with mausoleums and villas. Along the road you pass the Aurelian Walls and an imperial villa, and ride through areas that hide miles of underground catacomb tunnels. The longer, 6-hour version stops to go down into the catacombs with a guide; the 4-hour version does not.
- The Appian Way and its tombs
- The Park of the Aqueducts, with the tall arches that fed Rome with water
- The green Caffarella Valley, which brings you back to the city
About 40% of the ride is on carefully chosen city streets, and some traffic is unavoidable between the Appian Way and the aqueducts. The rest is through parks with no traffic. Food and drinks are not included, though the route has places to buy some. Babies under one year cannot join, and the bikes carry a weight limit of 136 kg.