Why did Hannibal take the route he did instead of sailing directly to Rome?

Hannibal chose to take the overland route through the Alps instead of sailing directly to Rome to avoid the Roman navy, which could intercept and disrupt a maritime approach. This route also allowed him to surprise the Romans by invading from the north, potentially rallying local tribes to his cause. Additionally, the overland trek aimed to maintain the element of surprise and leverage the element of unpredictability in his campaign.