Tiber Island

Overview

Isola Tiberina is the wildly charming, uniquely boat-shaped island sitting squarely in the middle of the fiercely fast-flowing River Tiber. As the absolutely smallest inhabited island in the world, it is deeply defined by ancient bridges, heavy folklore, and a 2,000-year history of medical care.

Highlights

• Ponte Fabricio: The stunningly preserved, massively sturdy stone bridge connecting the island to the Jewish Ghetto. Built in 62 BC, it is the absolute oldest bridge in Rome still in its highly original state.
• Fatebenefratelli Hospital: The massive, imposing 16th-century hospital taking up nearly half the island, famous during WWII for brilliantly inventing a highly contagious, completely fake disease ("Syndrome K") to terrifyingly keep Nazi soldiers away and save hundreds of hidden Jews.
• The Travertine Ship: Look closely at the southern tip of the island to see the deeply eroded remnants of the ancient Roman travertine stones carved exactly to make the island look like the massive prow of a ship.

History

According to legend, the island was violently formed when the angry citizens of Rome threw the massive wheat sheaves belonging to the hated tyrant king Tarquin the Proud into the river, where dirt heavily accumulated on them. In 293 BC, following a massive plague, a sacred snake belonging to the god of medicine (Aesculapius) supposedly jumped off a boat and swam to the island. Recognizing the divine omen, the Romans built a massive temple to healing there, establishing a medical legacy that remains active today.

Visitor Tips

• Summer Nights: During summer (L'Isola del Cinema), the riverbanks ringing the tiny island are completely transformed into a highly vibrant, bustling open-air cinema and outdoor bar scene.