A cook is digging a recipe from one of the world's oldest cookbooks to uncover the origins of Italian cuisine.
At that moment the sun was rising in Rome, outside the city walls. Its golden light filtered through the pine trees and shone onto the smooth expanse of basalt that changed the course of history.
This is the Appian Way, the first road built in the City of Rome. More than 2,000 years ago Roman armies set out from this city to conquer distant lands. They often come back with a win.
This street is the centerpiece of Rome's Appia Antica Archaeological Park, a sprawling patch of green that stretches from the outskirts of the historical heart of the city to the hillside villages of Castelli Romani.
This 4,700-hectare oasis is the second largest urban park in Europe. The park is dotted with waterways, nature reserves, archaeological sites, vineyards, meadows and villas owned by famous personalities such as designer Valentino and actress Gina Lollobrigida.
About three kilometers from the crowds of the Colosseum, this park is a place for tourists to relax. They could enjoy the Roman countryside at a leisurely pace, hearing the birds chirping and the shepherds leading their flocks.
The scattering of ruins adds to the memory that once captivated the imaginations of the Grand Tour painters and poets.
This is so felt when you feel the circle of life standing on this old road. The breeze blows bringing the scent of fresh grass, crumbling stones that carry stories from the past.
