Description

As you cross the Ponte Cestio bridge into Trastevere, you stroll through Tiber Island, which is a fascinating stopping point on your journey.

In ancient times, a temple to the god of medicine used to be located on this island.

Accounts say that in 293 BC there was a great plague in Rome. Upon consulting the Sibyl, the Roman Senate was instructed to build a temple to Aesculapius, the Greek god of healing, and sent a delegation to Epidauros to obtain a statue of the deity.

The delegation went on board a ship to sail out and obtain a statue. Following their belief system, they obtained a snake from a temple and put in on board their ship. It immediately curled itself around the ship's mast and this was deemed as a good sign by them.

Upon their return up the Tiber river, the snake slithered off the ship and swam onto the island. They believed that this was a sign from Aesculapius, a sign which meant that he wanted his temple to be built on that island.

The Isola Tiberina is the world's smallest inhabited island, and there are a lot of activities going on there during the summer among which an open air cinema, with italian and english movies, restaurants and nice open air bars where sit and enjoy the atmosphere.

You will feel in love with this little island as soon as you step into the lively open space. It is so relaxing to lay down a bit and just watch the river flowing.

We think this is a unique and very pleasant experience. In the island there is also a little church (Chiesa di San Bartolomeo) which was built on the spot of the Aesculapius temple and the ruins of an old bridge (Ponte Rotto).

The "Ponte Rotto" (broken bridge), the "Pons Aemilius", the first stone bridge in Rome, was restored several times because of the turbulence of the Tiber.

If you love bridges this will be a great spot to make pictures.