On May 30, 2019 under the Erasmus + program at the Faculty of Law of Sofia University "St. Kliment Ohridski ”is hosted by Prof. Vanessa Ponte from the University of Cordoba - Spain. Prof. Ponte is a professor of Roman law and a great friend of Bulgaria and Bulgarian culture. In 272 auditoriums of the Rectorate of Sofia University she gave a public lecture on Roman roads. The researcher from the Pyrenees began her presentation by sharing an interesting proposition, namely that the road, the road, the street or, in the end, what the Romans call via, is a manifestation of a transcendental requirement of man - movement.

The Spanish scientist drew the young audience's attention to the fact that destined to rule the world and forge the laws of the universe, no other nation like that of ancient Rome was able to foresee the crucial importance of a properly organized road network for trade. his pursuit of expansion, understood not only as the unfolding of power but also as a universal mission of civilization. She noted that the Romans, overcoming all natural barriers with the help of the great arteries, managed to reduce to zero the spatial and temporal dimensions that divide people living at great geographical distances. Through new human contacts, they manage to consolidate the consciousness of an essential ideological unity, followed by cultural and political assimilation of different peoples.

Professor Ponte emphasizes the admirable vast road network, spread over three continents, materializing Rome's irresistible desire to spread its culture and assert its ruling instinct beyond the Eternal City. There is hardly another nation or culture as closely connected and identified with the communication arteries as the Roman people and culture. Rome is a huge empire, which in our imagination we connect with a wonderful network of roads - viae, which we use today, in the 21st century.

Our guest also discussed in her presentation the legal regulations concerning Roman roads. She shared with the audience her view that the regulation of public roads in Roman law is very extensive, effective and precise, and covers various aspects - classification of roads according to their length, land ownership, the origin of the funds for their construction; regulation of construction activities and road maintenance; granting administrative concessions for their construction and repair; the tax regime to which they are subject; burdens and privileges imposed on citizens as a result of having a road; urban plans of cities based on the presence of two important paths - cardvs and decvmanvs; financing the construction and repair of roads; road protection by the administration and policies for proper use of roads; protection of citizens in the use of these public goods; bodies and magistrates exercising supervision in this field; forced expropriation in order for a road to pass through a certain place, etc.

After that, the lecture continued with an extensive presentation by Prof. Malina Novkirishka on Roman roads in Bulgaria and modern roads in Bulgaria, often built on road infrastructure from Roman times and coinciding with the great Roman arteries. Prof. Novkirishka presented an interesting presentation with many photos and pictures of different Roman roads in Bulgaria. She concluded her lecture by noting that today the road network of ancient Rome is considered to be an immortal monument of enormous size, brilliantly fulfilling its mission. The professor pointed out that they can be seen in Bulgaria preserved intact over the centuries, perfectly executed two thousand years ago and more years of grandiose constructions, from which modern civil engineers can learn and which will certainly last for many centuries.