Anyone familiar with Rome, Italy?

[Nathan Ross]

1.) The wife and I like to walk, and we're going to walk the via Appia Antica on a Sunday... Is there another way to get to the scenic part of it; aka a better route?

You can walk to the Via Appia from central Rome - start at the Circus Maximus and head south-east past the Baths of Caracalla (worth a look) and on down the narrower paved street (actually the Via Appia itself) to the Porta San Sebastian (very good - and free!). Through the gate, cross the main road and keep going - it's about a 25 minute walk.

The road is in use all the way to the Catacombs of San Callisto, and past the Domine Quo Vadis church part of the way runs between high walls and is a bit hairy with traffic. But people walk this route all the time, and Roman drivers are pretty good at not killing people, despite appearances to the contrary!

However, if you don't fancy that - go to Piramide metro station and you'll find a bus station right outside. Get on the 118 bus (it says 'Via Appia' on the front and goes every half hour or so) and it'll take you right down to the 'restored' bit of the Via Appia by a less interesting route. Make sure you get off the bus at the Catacombs of San Callisto (you'll probably see a large crowd there waiting to board). Don't stay on the bus, or you'll be taken on a thrilling tour of Rome's blander suburbs and then returned to where you started...

The main section of the Via Appia starts at the Catacombs, and you can continue from there on traffic-free Roman paving all the way to the Villa Quintilli, several miles on. If you manage to exit the villa by the Via Appia Nova side there's supposedly a bus (660?) that will take you back into central Rome, but I've never tried that option!