Via Egnatia

The Via Egnatia (Greek: Ἐγνατία Ὁδός ) was a Roman road in the Balkans, were connected by the Adriatic Sea and the Bosphorus. As an eastern continuation of the Via Appia, she was the most direct route between Rome and Constantinople Opel, the two major cities of late antique Roman Empire.

The ancient road ran through Illyria, Macedonia and Thrace, which now lie in the field of modern states, Albania, Macedonia, Greece, Bulgaria and Turkey. The starting point was Dyrrachium (today Durres ) on the Adriatic. A southern branch began in Apollonia ( Fier at today ), which was then also a major port city. In the valley of Shkumbin the two branches initially came together again. In the area of Lake Ohrid, there were again two routes, the (now Bitola ) met near Heraclea Lynchestis. Then the trail led to south on Thessalonica, from there it went again eastward to the northern Greek peninsula of Halkidiki over to Byzantium.

Set around the year 146 BC built military road was by Gnaeus Egnatius, proconsul of Macedonia, named. He had given the building in order. Stretches of Macedonian King streets were included in the construction.

Your important strategic and economic importance not lost even after the decline of the Roman Empire. In Byzantine times, the Via Egnatia was one of the major roads. Crusader and Ottoman conquerors also use this route.

Remains of the old road are still partly preserved, so at various short distances in Shkumbin Valley in Albania. This was the road over long distances not in the valley, but high up on the southern slopes. In some places near the Albanian town of Librazhd you can still see or imagine the ancient history. More remains - some in good condition - can also be found in the northern Greek city of Kavala, Agios Silas.

Presence

In the present, the route should be re- developed into one of the main routes in the Balkans. The Pan-European Transport Corridor VIII is worn by the Stability Pact for South Eastern Europe project.

In Greece, the A2 highway was designated according to the Via Egnatia Odos Egnatia. It binds the important port of Igoumenitsa in the Ionian Sea on to the road network of Thrace. In contrast to the ancient model the western route direction but deviates from the south and opens up the mountainous Epirus.