The core aim of the project “All Roads Lead to Rome” is to offer training, tools and logistical support to young people who want to take advantage of the economical potential of the ancient Roman roads in terms of employability, self-entrepreneurship, and local development. The purpose is to give them knowledge, expand their capabilities, and sharpen their skills. This will enable them to identify strategies and to exploit economic opportunities which maximise the economic value of the Roman roads network.

Roman roads make up a system of infrastructure built two thousand years ago in order to connect the various regions of the vast Roman Empire. According to a recent study of Copenhagen University there is “a remarkable pattern of persistence showing that greater Roman roads density goes along with greater modern road density and greater economic activity in 2010”.
In recent years, historical infrastructure systems like the various Roman roads have received much attention and contributed to the economical, social, and cultural development of the areas in which they are located (e.g. the Via Francigena or the Camino de Santiago de Compostela). In comparison with these, the potential of the greater Roman roads network is not at present adequately exploited. Moreover, the system itself is not well known. This is the case even with the young people who live, study and work in both urban and rural areas that depend on the heritage of these Roman roads.
These roads make up part of the European cultural heritage but also have the potential to be an economic resource as starting points of new projects of economic development in both local and international contexts.

The project will achieve many goals through its open educational environment (namely, an online platform) and innovative educational strategies and products. It will close the knowledge gap regarding Roman roads and their connection with local communities. It will provide the know-how and skills to transform this historical infrastructure into a source of economic, social, and cultural development. It will give the opportunity to participants to build a network anywhere in Europe. This network will boost the economic development of the individual areas and connect all involved people who want to engage in economic activity concerning the Roman roads.
The project targets students who attends universities and who would like, at the end of their studies, to be engaged in a business or scheme that involves the promotion of European Cultural Heritage, especially Roman roads and the places linked to them and by them.