Appius Claudius Caecus
The great abundance of villas and farms in the area must result from the ease of direct communication with Rome thanks to the Appian Way, built in 312 BC by the Censor Appius Claudius Caecus to connect the city of Rome with Capua, in Campania. In 293 BC the road was paved in "saxum quadratum" up to Bovillae. Later it was extended to Benevento and then to the Greek port of Brindisi.