The Appian Way, or La Via Appia Antica, is the first long-distance road constructed by the Roman Empire intended for military use. It originally stretched around 350 miles from Rome to the south of Italy where the Adriatic port town of Brindisi provides sea access to Greece.And this this thing is old.he Appian Way, or La Via Appia Antica, is the first long-distance road constructed by the Roman Empire intended for military use. It originally stretched around 350 miles from Rome to the south of Italy where the Adriatic port town of Brindisi provides sea access to Greece. And this this thing is old.