Furlo Pass, Roman tunnel in Acqualagna, Italy
Furlo Pass is a rock tunnel roughly 38 meters long, carved by hand into the mountain and still bearing marks from ancient chisel work. The Romans cut through the stone to create a continuous road across the mountain barrier.
Emperor Vespasian ordered this passage enlarged and improved in 76 AD to make the important Via Flaminia trade route easier to travel through the narrow mountain gorge. The work was part of a broader program to upgrade roads throughout the empire.
The passage demonstrates how Romans cut through mountains to move people and goods across difficult terrain. This kind of solution was vital for travelers of that era and reveals the practical thinking of ancient engineers.
To visit the ancient tunnel, you can walk through the passage on foot while modern traffic flows through separate tunnels alongside it. Good footwear matters, as the ground is uneven and sometimes slippery.
Just beside the tunnel stands a small church dedicated to the Virgin of Furlo, built in the 1400s and set against the steep rock walls. This pairing of ancient and medieval structures makes the site particularly memorable.
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