''Strada statale 7 Via Appia'' ( SS 7) is a motorway that follows the path of the ancient Appian Way, connecting Rome to

Brindisi Brindisi ( , ) ; la, Brundisium; grc, Βρεντέσιον, translit=Brentésion; cms, Brunda), group=pron is a city in the region of Apulia in southern Italy, the capital of the province of Brindisi, on the coast of the Adriatic Sea. Histo ...

. In the stretch between Cisterna di Latina and Terracina, the SS 7 is called "fettuccia di Terracina" ("the Terracina Ribbon") due to its straight line.

History

The modern SS 7 was established in 1928 with the following route: " Roma – Velletri – Terracina – Capua – Napoli –

Marigliano Marigliano is a town and ''comune'' of the Metropolitan City of Naples, Campania, southern Italy. The town lies 19 km from Naples. Nearby towns include: Acerra, Brusciano, Mariglianella, Nola, San Vitaliano, Scisciano, Somma Vesuviana. Main ...

–

Avellino Avellino () is a town and ''comune'', capital of the province of Avellino in the Campania region of southern Italy. It is situated in a plain surrounded by mountains east of Naples and is an important hub on the road from Salerno to Benevento. ...

– Atripalda – Sant'Angelo dei Lombardi Junction – Lioni – Ruoti –

Potenza Potenza (, also , ; , Potentino dialect: ''Putenz'') is a ''comune'' in the Southern Italian region of Basilicata (former Lucania). Capital of the Province of Potenza and the Basilicata region, the city is the highest regional capital and one ...

– Laterza – Castellaneta – Taranto – Francavilla –

." The motorway's route was changed in 1935, abandoning the original section from Capua to

passing through Naples and

in favor of a more northern route passing through Caserta and

Benevento Benevento (, , ; la, Beneventum) is a city and ''comune'' of Campania, Italy, capital of the province of Benevento, northeast of Naples. It is situated on a hill above sea level at the confluence of the Calore Irpino (or Beneventano) and the ...

. The abandoned route was reused as the new . In 1937 the route was changed again, abandoning the original section from Pozzo Grillo in Laterza through Ginosa in favor of a more northern route passing through

Matera Matera (, ; Materano: ) is a city in the region of Basilicata, in Southern Italy. As the capital of the province of Matera, its original settlement lies in two canyons carved by the Gravina River. This area, the Sassi di Matera, is a comple ...

. The new route included a section that had previously been part of . In 1951, the branch from Formia to

Gaeta Gaeta (; lat, Cāiēta; Southern Laziale: ''Gaieta'') is a city in the province of Latina, in Lazio, Southern Italy. Set on a promontory stretching towards the Gulf of Gaeta, it is from Rome and from Naples. The town has played a consp ...

was classified as a state road. In 1952, the branch connecting the SS 7 to the Rome-Ciampino airport was classified as a state road.

References

{{State highways in Italy 7 Transport in Rome Transport in Lazio Transport in Campania Transport in Basilicata Transport in Apulia