Strabo, Geography

In the case of those who sail across from Greece or Asia, the more direct route is to Brentesium, and, in fact, all who propose to go to Rome by land put into port here. There are two roads¹ from here: one, a mule-road through the countries of the Peucetii (who are called Poedicli),² the Daunii, and the Samnitae as far as Beneventum; on this road is the city of Egnatia,³ and then, Celia,⁴ Netium,⁵ Canusium, and Herdonia.⁶ But the road by way of Taras, lying slightly to the left of the other, though as much as one day's journey out of the way when one has made the circuit,⁷ what is called the Appian Way, is better for carriages. On this road are the cities of Uria and Venusia, the former between Taras and Brentesium and the latter on the confines of the Samnitae and the Leucani. Both the roads from Brentesium meet near Beneventum and Campania. And the common road from here on, as far as Rome, is called the Appian Way, and passes through Caudium,⁸ Calatia,⁹ Capua,¹⁰ and Casilinum to Sinuessa.¹¹ And the places from there on I have already mentioned. The total length of the road from Rome to Brentesium is three hundred and sixty miles. But there is also a third road, which runs from Rhegium through the countries of the Brettii, the Leucani, and the Samnitae into Campania, where it joins the Appian Way; it passes through the Apennine Mountains and it requires three or four days more than the road from Brentesium.