THE ROAD
- Valle dell'Adige, Trento e Monte Bondone
- Alta Valsugana, Panarotta
- Valsugana Orientale, Tesino, Passo Brocon
- Vallagarina, Rovereto, Altopiano di Brentonico
Claudia Augusta is the name of the ancient imperial Road, traced in the I century BC by the Roman General Drusus and then completed by his son, the Emperor Claudius, in order to connect the Adriatic harbours with the Danubian plains.
From Adriatic Sea (from Altino in the Venetian lagoon) and from the river Po (Ostiglia) the ancient road carried to Augusta trough Veneto, Trentino, Alto Adige, Tyrol and Bayern. For centuries the Road had been the main communication axis from South to North, from the Adriatic regions to the Retic regions, between Latin and German cultures.
The construction of this road made possible a cultural and economic exchange beyond the Alps and strongly promoted mobility, commerce and economic activities. The Road was traced using, when possible, pre-Roman outlines: the new Road helped the imperial army to fight the Retis and the Vindaelic, but also to bring fresh goods to the troops placed along the northern border of the Empire.
The Via Claudia was completed in 46-47 AC and had been covered by merchants and soldiers for about a century and a half, since new road came and substituted it. But the ancient road did not die: it had been adapted to the new population needs in the Medieval Age and in more recent times.
Today we can trace its outline – that sometimes remains intact in small local branches - in the minor pathways and along the mountain roads, but also in the major communication road network built by the contemporary projectors under the same principles of the Roman architecti and curatores viarum.