A new offer for the Regina Viarum or Via Appia
The historical, cultural and food and wine riches of the province of Latina are valorised with cycling tourism in mind
by Enrico Netti
History, environment, culture, landscapes, but also archaeological, cycling and food and wine itineraries. This is the new life of a stretch of the Appian Way or, if you prefer the Regina Viarum (Queen of Roads), the most important Roman consular road. The stretch is that of the Appian Way, a Unesco heritage site, between the Pontine plain and the Garigliano river, in the province of Latina, and the project was created and coordinated by Gerardo Stefanelli, President of the Province, who wanted to focus on an innovative model of integrated tourist promotion and coordination of area policies for the enhancement of the Pontine territory and its excellences. The archaeological sites recount the grandeur of the ancient Regina Viarum, the cycle routes cross the Pontine plain to the hillside villages, and the food and wine specialities that enhance the flavours of the area: each itinerary thus becomes part of a unique mosaic, the custodian of a fragment of the Appian Way. "We drew up a memorandum of understanding with the thirteen mayors involved that allowed us to collect documentation, propose initiatives and coordinate all the actions regarding the Pontine stretch. A governance model that is still active and working today,' reports Gerardo Stefanelli, president of the province of Latina.
From the temples of Norba to the theatres of Minturnae, from isolated mausoleums to landscapes suspended over the sea, the province of Latina presents itself as an open-air museum to lovers of ancient history. For cyclists, it offers a mix of history and adventure: a route through nature, ancient stones and views that change at every turn, from the Pontine plain to the Aurunci mountains to the sea of southern Lazio. This slow itinerary starts in Rome and crosses the entire province from north to south: in addition to the capital Latina it touches on Cisterna di Latina, Norma, Sermoneta, Sezze, Pontinia, Terracina, Monte San Biagio, Fondi, Itri, Gaeta, Formia and Minturno. The Via Appia or Regina Viarum has become a symbol of Italian history and culture, but also a strategic axis of sustainable development and territorial cohesion, capable of uniting the past and future of the province in a single vision, inviting lovers of the Bel Paese to be guided along this journey through history: the tourists who have travelled the Regina Viarum in recent months come mainly from northern Europe and French-speaking countries including Canada.
The food and wine stages
Along the route of the Via Appia, regardless of the means of transport used, one can experience a full immersion of the food and wine specialities of an area that ranges from the Lepine hills to the sea among historic villages and markets with local specialities. All you have to do is choose where to stop. Norma, for example, is the home of the Monti Lepini hazelnuts and typical sweets such as torrone and hazelnut tarts. Latina, continuity between tradition and agricultural innovation, with Pontine honey and local fruit and vegetables; Cisterna di Latina, the capital of the IGP Kiwi di Latina, the symbolic fruit of the Pontine plains; Sermoneta, with Colline Pontine Dop extra virgin olive oil, flanked by fragrant baked goods and traditional Lepine sweets; Sezze, home of the famous Roman artichoke, with local wines and a cuisine that recounts the rural history of the plains; Pontinia, cradle of the Pontine buffalo mozzarella, dotted with farms and dairies that open their doors to visitors, offering experiences among pastures, tastings and educational farms; Terracina, with its Moscato di Terracina Doc, accompanied by fresh seafood and recipes that blend seafaring and rural traditions; Monte San Biagio, famous for its Monte San Biagio PAT sausage, flavoured with coriander and chilli pepper; Fondi, home of Ithran olives, native wines and fresh vegetables that enliven the local cuisine; Itri, famous for its DOP Colline Pontine extra virgin olive oil and the famous black olive of Gaeta, two symbols of the rural culture of lower Lazio; Gaeta, with its famous tiella, preserved blue fish and salted anchovies; Formia, with preserved blue fish and salted anchovies; and Minturno, where fine wines, cheeses and traditional cured meats are produced that keep the memory of rural communities alive.
