Retire Early Lifestyle
Retirement; like your parents, but way cooler

In 1991 Billy and Akaisha Kaderli retired at the age of 38. Now, into their 4th decade of this financially independent lifestyle, they invite you to take advantage of their wisdom and experience.

The Roman Empire's Appian Way Ends in Brindisi, Italy

Billy and Akaisha Kaderli

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Traveling in Italy, one walks through centuries of history as a daily experience.

These are the same roads The Roman Empire built, or where Kings and Queens of past era lived.

Countless wars of one kind or another have been fought for power, control and riches or for freedom from those same conquerors.

I learned about the famous Roman Road called The Appian Way when I was a child in school. Never in my life did I expect to run across it in my travels - virtually by dumb luck.

On our first trip to Brindisi, we met a couple on a motorcycle trip doing extensive traveling along this major feat of Roman engineering.

Billy and I were wandering the beautiful malecon of the seaside town of Brindisi, and this couple said "Yeah. We are ending our motorcycle trip here at the end of the Appian Way. See those columns there?"

WHAAAT?!!

My head flipped immediately to the right and I looked up.

Oh. My. Lord.

The view of the Roman columns from the harbor

It was my first view of this famous road and I was gobsmacked.

I mean - seriously, not to sound blasé about it - but we have been in Italy for a while now, and had seen amphitheaters, ancient buildings, miles and miles of olive orchards, Medieval castles and villages... and some of the time, we didn't know what it was exactly, that we were looking at.

Oh that's nice.

Columns.

Hmmm.

But then the motorcycle couple from Denmark said, "No. No. Not just any columns. The Appian Way ends here in Brindisi. Those two columns mark the end of that road."

Immediately I got over my embarrassment and my mental fog quickly turned into excitement.

Yes, the Appian Way terminates here in Brindisi and this is where the well-known expression “All Roads Lead to Rome” comes from.

Built in 312 BC, this first major Roman road started in the city of Rome and connected it to Brindisi in southeastern Italy.

The distinguished poet Virgil died in a house at the end of the Appian Way in 19 BC on his way home from Greece, where he had caught a fever. He wrote the Aeneid and said: ‘Omnia vincit amor’ or ‘Love conquers everything’. 

The building in which he is said to have ended his earthly days is on the far right – in the yellow building with the wrought iron terrace where the street lamp is.

From the other side, looking towards Brindisi Harbor

From here walk away from the sea and along Via Colonne. This is an attractive road lined with 17 and 18th century palaces, and it goes right past the Cathedral which dates back to the 11th century.

You've heard of the great gladiator Spartacus, right?

Well, as a captured warrior/slave he fought against the oppression of many Roman armies and defeated them along this same Appian Way.

He led a major slave uprising against the Roman Republic. And all sources agree that not only was he was a former gladiator but also an accomplished military leader.

There used to be two columns, one which fell and crumbled over the centuries (and was given to a sister city, Lecce) and the remaining column stands here now at about 18.75 meters tall, made of white marble.

Looking out into the Brindisi Harbor, the gateway from Brindisi to the Adriatic Sea.

Standing in front of the columns one sees Brindisi Harbor.

This road played a crucial role in Roman military, economic, and cultural expansion, facilitating troop movement, commerce, and communication throughout the whole Roman Empire.

Billy and Akaisha in front of the Roman columns

The sea breeze is quite strong as you can tell from my hair being blown back!

This "Queen of Roads" ending at the harbor allowed the Romans to go onwards to Africa and the Middle East.

In the Middle Ages it became the prime port for the crusades, and in WWII Brindisi harbor played a strategic part in the European theater.

Well, now you know.

Brindisi is legendary for its place in history, and when you go there, don't miss the small walk along Via Colonne where it goes right past the Cathedral and where the road breaks out to the sea.

What a view!

Retire Early Lifestyle appeals to a different kind of person – the person who prizes their independence, values their time, and who doesn’t want to mindlessly follow the crowd.

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