Backroads Europe

Follow the Via Aquitania, an ancient Roman road that connected a network of regional cities, including Narbonne, Toulouse, and Bordeaux, and served as the main trade route between the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean. Traces of the region’s historical significance abound, and that history will become clearer to you the more you listen to the people who love this land speak of it.

Explore the important ancient Roman military road of Via Julia that made rapid travel from Lutetia (now Paris) to Constantinople (now Istanbul) possible. Discover the spirit and culture of the people who keep the memories of the land along this ancient route they call home intact, and who do their utmost to keep the sacred traditions of their ancestors alive.

Italy’s Via Cassia once led north from Rome, the Empire’s capital city, to Florence, finally joining the Via Aurelia at Luna (now Luni). As you meander northward along the ancient route of the Via Cassia, each unique location you visit, and the interesting people you meet there, speak vividly to the region’s steeped history and culture and will leave an indelible impression on you.

Via Publicae was once an ancient Roman road and trade route that stretched from Braga in the north to Lisbon in the south of Portugal. Roman influence was once very strong in this region, and to this day, striking elements of the ancient times still exist along this route. Open your ears to those who call this land home, and who will unveil its unique characteristics and traits to you.

The Via Romana once formed part of an extensive ancient trade route that led from Rome to Germania, and from Geneve to Augst within the borders of Switzerland. 2,000 years ago, Julius Caesar’s Gallic affairs pulled Switzerland into history’s spotlight. Today, it is abundantly clear that the safekeeping of local ancestral and cultural traditions is of prime importance to those who live here.