From Martini Bed it is possible to discover the Old Appian Way by bike through a Bike Tour which only passes through parks and safe roads.
The huge Appia Antica Regional Park also includes the Tor Fiscale Park (which is only 500 mt far from the B&B) and the Aqueducts Park connected together by an off-road path. Download the leaflet of the seven Aqueducts area here.
For Martini Bed’s costumers it is possible (only if the owner Paolo is in Rome and arranged before) to have a free introduction to the Regina Viarum, Paolo will cycle with you until the Old Appian Way giving you some info about the area and leave you free to discover personally those beautiful landscapes of Rome. The picture below shows you the “bye bye point” which is 400 mt far from via Erode Attico at the 4th mile of the Old Appian Way.
There is an affiliated bike rent here in the nearby of Martini Bed which offers discount rate to Martini Bed’s costumers. They also organize guided bicycle tours in Rome. Check Gazebike website if you want a guided tour or contact Paolo to arrange a help to find the road to Appia Antica for free.
Anyway we are going to explain the tour in this article for those who want to go alone.
Here’s a map of the free bike tour from Martini Bed (point A) to the “bye bye point” (B) + “low cost tour of Caffarella Valley”
Once arrived at Appia Antica, if you go left (direction Castelli Romani and Albano Lake) you will find Villa dei Quintili entrance, which is a low cost attraction in Rome because the EUR 6 ticket for the villa also includes the entrance to Cecilia Metella Tomb and Caracalla’s Thermal Bath (valid for one week).
Once in front of the main entrance try to reach the top of one of the 2 small hills in behind of you ( the Tumulus of Curazi ), you will have a great view over the Appia Antica landscape.
The low cost spirit of Appia Antica is also certified by its free museums, check out this map and try to find them!
Here’s the list of free places to visit at Appia Antica Regional Park:
–Villa di Massenzio , number 12 on the leaflet of Appia Antica
–Church of “Domine Quo Vadis ?”, number 5 on the leaflet of Appia Antica, open during Holy Mess
–Museo delle Mura, at the start of Appia Antica (number zero, at the old walls of Rome)
-Church of S. Urbano, in Caffarella Valley, Vicolo di S. Urbano
Open on Sundays from 10.00 a.m. to 12.00 a.m. Audio guide here.
The bike tour arrives at
–Basilica of St. Sebastian and Catacombs
Closed every Sundays and from 22 November to 20 December, Easter and Xmas.
Opening times: guided visit 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. closing time 5 p.m.
Ticket price: € 8.00 adults; € 5.00 Under 15; Under 5 free of charge
From the Basilica it’s better to reach Caffarella Valley check out this page and download the audio guide of the park, discover the Appia Antica Regional Park on your own in a low cost way.
Follow the itinerary through the beauties of Caffarella Valley and reach Domine Quo Vadis.
If you don’t want to reach the Museo delle Mura, Check out this other itinerary to turn back home or go back cycling along the Old Appian Way (which unfortunately is not always traffic free) and entering the Aqueducts Park on the same way made before. Last option to come back is to take the metro from Colli Albani stop and reach Porta Furba, check this article about bikes on public transportation.
There are many drinking water fountains in the park and even eat is not difficult, here’s a list of places where to eat:
Tor Fiscale Area:
Casale del Fiscale, Via dell’Acquedotto Felice 120. Only Fry/Sat by reservation 328/1623639 – 333/6891754
Aqueducts Area:
Lievito Madre, via Lemonia, 214. Ph 06 45481454
Albano Lake direction
Fattoria di Fiorano, Via di Fioranello, 34 Only Fry, Sat and Sun Ph. 342 3658581 – 06 79340114
On the Old Appian Way, going out from Rome’s city centre:
– Ar Montarozzo, via Appia Antica, 4. Ph. 06 77208434
– La Botticella da Franca, via Appia Antica, 28. Ph. 06 5136792
– Sapori & Motori, via Appia Antica, 46. Ph. 06 5136791
– Trattoria di Priscilla, via Appia Antica, 68. Ph. 06 5136379
– Hostaria Antica Roma, via Appia Antica, 87. Ph. 06 5132888
– Cecilia Metella, via Appia Antica, 125. Ph. 06 5136743
– Qvi nvn se more mai, via Appia Antica, 198. Ph. 06 7803922
– Garden Ristoro, Via Appia Antica , 172. Ph. 067848963 – 329.833099
In front of line 660’s bus stop (from Colli Albani metro stop) there is a bar, they also have food and they rent bikes (the bike rent is expensive here but you are in the middle of the monumental area and a one hour rent is enough to discover the Old Appian Way) :
– Appia Antica Caffè, via Appia Antica, 175. Ph. 338 3465440
We wish you a wonderful day in the nature and a magic holiday in Rome!