GOLA DEL FURLO: In the footsteps of the Roman Army

THERE WERE ONCE four main roads leading to and from Rome.

They were routes used by the Roman Army in ancient times to get from Rome to other sections of the empire.

The Via Flaminia was the Roman road to the Adriatic Sea with the road finally ending at the seaport of Fano.

To get to Fano, however, the Roman Army had to trek through the steep and treacherous mountains, following the Burano River for much of the journey.

The easiest path led the Romans through the Gola Del Furlo, the throat of Furlo. But even that was not an easy path. The Romans had to dig a deep, 30 foot long tunnel through limestone hills.

Today, drivers still use that tunnel when driving through the scenic range that is remniscent of the Grand Canyon.

- G. Miller