They also provided information on when the road was built, who constructed it and who last repaired it.ДҐ. Much like the road signs on modern interstates and freeways, these stone pillars gave the distance to the nearest town in Roman miles and instructed the traveler on the best places to stop. They were easy to navigate.ДЄs the made their way down one of RomeвЂ™s many roadways, weary travelers could guide themselves by a detailed collection of mile markers. Roads were built with a crown and adjacent ditches to ensure easy water drainage, and in some rainy regions they were even nestled on raised berms known as вЂњaggersвЂќ to prevent flooding. Finally, the surface layer was constructed using neatly arranged blocks made from gravel, pebbles, iron ore or hardened volcanic lava. This was followed by foundation layers of crushed rocks or gravel cemented with lime mortar. The bottom section of the road was usually made of leveled earth and mortar or sand topped with small stones. Crews began by digging shallow, three-foot trenches and erecting small retaining walls along either side of the proposed route. Roman builders used whatever materials were at hand to construct their roads, but their design always employed multiple layers for durability and flatness. BritainвЂ™s Fosse Way, for example, only veered a few miles off course over its entire 180-mile distance. Even in instances where the road was forced to divert from its course, the Romans typically opted for sharp turns and switchbacks over sweeping curves to preserve their arrow-straight design. The resulting roads often shot straight up steep hills, and small bridges and tunnels were built to ensure the path could traverse rivers or pass right through mountains. Land surveyors, or вЂњgromatici,вЂќ began the building process by using sighting poles to painstakingly chart the most direct route from one destination to another.

Since Roman roads were designed with speed of travel in mind, they often followed a remarkably straight trail across the countryside. Royal Geographical Society/Getty Images 2. The image shows two sheets of the eight-sheet map, centered on Rome. There is an optional last-minute ticket (itвЂ™s a little more expensive but worth it) that will get you priority access to the Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel.This is a 16th-century copy of a 4th-century map attributed to Castorius, covering the road network of the Roman Empire. If youвЂ™re looking for a last minute ticket (weвЂ™ve all been there), then donвЂ™t worry. We recommend the skip-the-line ticket as youвЂ™ll get into the museum more quickly and avoid the crazy long general queue вЂ“ check prices now!Д«uy your Vatican Museums tickets now Vatican Museum Last Minute Tickets The Vatican museum can get insanely busy at peak times so we recommend reserving a fast-track ticket before you go. ItвЂ™s made up of two staircases: an upward and a downward staircase in a double helix and they combine to create a mesmerising effect. The enchanting spiral staircase in the Vatican museumВ is guaranteed to hold your gaze and have you reaching for your camera to capture its perfection. RomeвЂ™s lie detector! 7В | Be mesmerised by the spiral staircase in the Vatican Museum The unbelievable view when you peek through! The beautiful gardens perfectly surrounding St PeterвЂ™s Basilica

ItвЂ™s hard to imagine that the view was a beautiful accident when building the doorway and gardens but either way itвЂ™s one of the most unusual and stunning viewpoints weвЂ™ve ever seen. The secret is that the keyhole lines up directly with the beautiful, tree-lined priory garden and centres on St. ThatвЂ™s exactly what you can do at the Knight of Malta gate on Aventine Hill in RomeВ where aВ tiny, nondescript keyhole adorns a green wooden door at the top of hill. Imagine standing in one country, looking through a keyhole across another and into a third. 1 | Peek through theВ keyhole on Aventine Hill WeвЂ™ve put together some of the best that weвЂ™ve found from our many trips to Rome. Check out our list of the best photo locations in Rome here.ДЇrom the truly amazing views of Aventine Hill to the spiral staircase in the Vatican, Rome is packed with secret and unique things to see.9 | Watch a beautifulВ sunset over the Rome rooftops.8 |В Pass through the Holy Door at the Basilica.7В | Be mesmerised by the spiral staircase in the Vatican Museum.6В | Test your honesty at La Bocca della VeritГ , the Mouth of Truth.

5В | Gaze in awe at CaravaggioвЂ™s finest paintings in the Church of San Luigi dei Francesi.4В | Discover ancient Egypt at the Pyramid of Cestius.3 | Stand on the Meridian LineВ at the Basilica of St Mary of Angels and Martyrs.2В |В Climb the Copula at St PeterвЂ™s Basilica.1 | Peek through theВ keyhole on Aventine Hill.

Roads of rome 4 secret items