As road trips go, they don't come more dramatic and historic than this one! This road has to be the ultimate road trip for Roman history buffs as it winds it way from the turquoise waters of the Adriatic to the the warm and inviting Black Sea.

It passes through four European countries, but despite being one of the most important roads in the Roman Empire, the Via Egnatia, or Ancient Macedonia Road does not go through Italy.

It does, howver, take you through Albania, Macedonia, Greece and Turkey with plenty of historical sites and  breathtaking scenery along the way. The road was built in the second century BC and owes its name to the Roman proconsul Gnaeus Egnatius, who oversaw its construction. It was an important trade route, one of the most important in the Roman Empire.

Today, many of the ancient sites on its route are popular tourist destinations, and many Roman Empire enthusiasts often visit them and it attracts visitors from around the world.

The road spanned over 1,120 kilometres (746 miles) and had to cross several mountain ranges and rivers since the Balkans is full of mountains.

The road’s impact on history and culture is also recognized by UNESCO, which has designated Via Egnatia as part of the “Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe.” 

Key towns along the way include the starting point Durres in Albania, one of the country's oldest and second largest city, while its port is one of the largest on the Adriatic. With stunning beaches too it is a great place to start the road trip. It also boasts a venetian tower, ancient roman walls, mosaics and an amphitheatre.

There are four more stops in Albania before you reach the beautiful coastal city of Ohrid in North Macedonia. It has 365 churches, one for every day fo the year! 

Two more stops in Macedonia and you reach the mountainous town of Florina just over the border in Greece and the gateway to the Prespa Lakes before moving on to Edessa and Pella. 

From there you travel to Thessaloniki, the second largest city in Greece, located on the Thermaic Gulf at the northwest corner of the Aegean Sea. The city is renowned for its festivals, events and vibrant cultural life in general and the city's main university, Aristotle University, is the largest in Greece and the Balkans. The culinary rich Thessaloniki also boast more UNESCO sites than any city in the world. 

After several more stops in Greece travellers along the route reach the border with Turkey at the crossing town of Ipsala.

Several more stops through Turkey along the coast finally lead travellers to the end of the road - Istanbul, the largest city in Turkey straddling the Bosporus Strait between Europe and Asia, so not only do you visit four countries, technically you also visit two continents!

All the towns, villages and cities along the way are packed with Roman history, jaw-dropping views and spectacular scenery.

In the summer of 2022, travel journalist Norm Bour and his wife Kathleen embarked on a 31-day adventure through 15 unique locations in Northern Greece, all while traveling on a BMW motorcycle at ages 67 and 68.  They traversed the Via Egnatia Highway and wrote a book about their travels.

"From the stunning Meteora monasteries perched atop towering pinnacles to the historic cities of Edessa and Kavala, this region is rich with culture and history" they said.