<\/p>\n
The UNESCO World Heritage designation refers to cultural and natural properties of exceptional interest to the common heritage of humanity<\/strong>. A 1972 treaty gives the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) the task of identifying, protecting, and preserving sites of “outstanding universal value”<\/strong>, such as the temples of Abu Simbel (Egypt)<\/strong>, the Italian city of Venice<\/strong>, or the Angkor Wat temple (Cambodia)<\/strong>. Besides increased fame and attractiveness, sites holding this precious label can expect to see their tourist numbers increase by 20 to 50%. Today, 1,223 cultural and natural properties<\/strong> are listed<\/strong>, and Italy is in the lead.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n On July 27, the committee unveiled the names of thirteen new sites whose nominations were accepted. Among them is the via Appia<\/strong>, the famous Italian road and a remnant of the Roman Empire.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n “Regina Viarum,” literally “the queen of roads” in Latin. This is how the Romans referred to the via Appia, one of the oldest Italian roads. Stretching over 500 kilometers<\/strong>, this road crossed central and southern Italy, connecting Rome to Brindisi<\/strong>, a port city in Apulia.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Built starting in 312 BC<\/strong> by the censor Appius Claudius Caecus<\/strong>, the via Appia is a testament to the ingenuity of Roman civilization.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Designed for military purposes, the road allowed troops to be sent quickly to southern Italy to consolidate Rome’s domination over this part of the peninsula during the Second Samnite War<\/strong>. It later became a strategic element in the military conquest of the East and Asia Minor.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n This road became essential for major commercial communications and key cultural transmissions. Over time, it became a model for all Roman public roads and the Empire’s complex road system.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/magazine.luxus-plus.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/Capture-decran-2024-07-30-a-13.37.11-858x1024.png\")
An Iconic Road<\/h2>\n