State Highway 7
Strada statale 7
Via Appia
Route information
Maintained by ANAS
Length	713.450 km (443.317 mi)
Major junctions
From	Rome
To	Brindisi
Location
Country	Italy
Regions	Lazio Campania Basilicata Apulia
Highway system
Roads in Italy Autostrade State Regional Provincial

Strada statale 7 Via Appia (SS 7) is a motorway that follows the path of the ancient Appian Way, connecting Rome to Brindisi. 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 – Avellino – Atripalda – Sant'Angelo dei Lombardi Junction – Lioni – Ruoti – Potenza – Laterza – Castellaneta – Taranto – Francavilla – Brindisi."^[1]

The motorway's route was changed in 1935, abandoning the original section from Capua to Avellino passing through Naples and Marigliano in favor of a more northern route passing through Caserta and Benevento. The abandoned route was reused as the new Strada statale 7 bis di Terra di Lavoro.^[2]

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. The new route included a section that had previously been part of Strada statale 99 di Matera.^[3]

In 1951, the branch from Formia to Gaeta was classified as a state road.^[4]

In 1952, the branch connecting the SS 7 to the Rome-Ciampino airport was classified as a state road.^[5]

References