The legends of archaic Rome recount that Tiber Island was formed from the bales of wheat thrown into the river by the Romans as a gesture of liberation, following the expulsion of the hated Etruscan king Tarquin the Proud.
In actual fact, we know that, from the earliest times, the island was a natural ford, the only point of connection between the two banks of the Tiber and a meeting point for pre-Roman populations. The presence of the river, a strategic artery for the transport of goods, including the salt produced at its nearby mouth, and the transit point between the banks near the island, marked the birth and destiny of Rome and not only. The historian Livy recounts that in 229 B.C., the snake sacred to Aesculapius, brought by ship from Greece to try to put an end to a terrible plague, jumped into the river and stopped on the island. Here, at a spring of water believed to be curative, a temple was consecrated to the god of medicine and the epidemic ended. Today, on the ruins of the Temple of Aesculapius stands the Church of San Bartolomeo, a treasure trove of stories, traditions and works of art, including the mysterious underground crypt, which can be visited on request. The island's healthcare vocation has continued thanks to the building of two hospitals, still in use, the Israelitic Hospital and the Fatebenefratelli Hospital. Known as the 'island between two bridges', in Roman times it was decorated with marble at its two extremities to accentuate the shapes of the prow and stern, transforming it into a stone ship, the image of which is still clearly recognisable. Over the centuries, many events have marked its history and the river has undergone many changes, but the island has never lost its charm. Amid legends and traditions, monuments and scenic glimpses, Tiber Island is an iconic place, to be visited without haste, ideal for a relaxing break, while enjoying the atmosphere of the river. Every year, for the Estate Romana (Roman Summer), the banks of the Tiber come alive with shops and stands offering many different delights, from aperitifs to after-dinner drinks. And every evening a different film is screened at the Isola del Cinema (Film Island), a historic cinema arena on the banks of Rome’s Island.
