Archaeologists discover lost ancient city using drone technology along Appian Way in Italy
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An ancient city – complete with a square and a theater – has recently opened near a popular tourist destination in Italy, according to officials.
In a statement released this month, Italy’s Ministry of Culture said the city was found at the Fioccaglia archaeological site in Flumeri, Avellino, along the Appian Way.
A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Appian Way is a nearly 350-mile long road from Rome to Brindisi.
With some parts dating back to 312 BC, the road was one of the most important roads in Ancient Rome – and a rare remnant of ancient life.
Officials say the ruins were discovered using drones, led by a team of experts. The ruins date back to between the second and first centuries BC
Italian officials have announced the discovery of an ancient Roman city in the area of Fioccaglia in Flumeri, Avellino, along the historic Appian Way. (Ministero della Cultura)
Recent excavations have “clearly identified the layout of the city, with common street axes and planned blocks based on the model of newly established Roman cities,” according to the statement.
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Officials said the forum — the city’s civic and commercial center — was important. And “a previously unknown theater, [it is] a feature that proves the social and cultural importance of the city center.”
“The findings confirm that Fioccaglia was a well-organized city with large public buildings, reinforcing its historical and strategic role in the Roman road system,” the release added.
The Appian Way, which runs about 350 kilometers from Rome to Brindisi, is recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. (Photos by Antonio Masiello/Getty)
Professor Giuseppe Ceraudo, a professor at the University of Salento who helped find the ruins, said a combination of “geophysical surveys and remote sensing investigations using drones equipped with thermal and multi-sensors.”
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The technology “made it possible to obtain a real ‘X-ray’ of the ancient buried center, to identify the structures by the diversity of plant growth and the magnetic composition of the subsoil,” said Ceraudo.
“The multidisciplinary approach provided a solid scientific basis for planning future defense and development activities,” he added.
Parts of the Appian Way date back to 312 BC, making it one of Rome’s oldest and most important routes. (Ivan Romano/Getty Images)
Angelo Lanza, the mayor of Flumeri, called this discovery “a source of great pride and an opportunity for the development of our area.”
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“The Municipality is ready to work closely with the University and the Superintendent to ensure that Fioccaglia, which is the intersection of the Via Appia road, becomes a milestone in the history and culture of what inland Campania has to offer,” he said in a statement.
Discoveries along the Appian Way shed new light on Roman city planning in southern Italy. (Photos by Antonio Masiello/Getty)
This announcement adds to the list of other major historical discoveries throughout Italy so far in 2026.
Earlier in February, Pompeii officials revealed that 2,000-year-old love notes were found in the tourist section of the archaeological park.
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In January, archaeologists uncovered a long-lost basilica tied to Vitruvius, the reputed father of architecture.
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