Tiber River Cruises and Tours

The Tiber is the third-longest river in Italy, rising in the Apennine mountains and ending at the sea at Ostia, once the port of Ancient Rome. It is 252 miles (406 km) long. The story goes that the infants Romulus and Remus were abandoned on the waters of the Tiber, were rescued by a she-wolf, and founded Rome 15 mi (25 km) from the sea in 753 BC.

The Tiber River has also been heavy with sediment and although Romans throughout history have dredged it, the river is now navigable only to Rome and not beyond. The port of Ostia was abandoned to mud as far back as 1 AD.

Practical Info

The Tiber is crisscrossed by bridges, many of them modern, but three ancient bridges have survived. Ponte Sant'Angelo near the Vatican, Fabricius Bridge, a stone arch bridge from 62 BC, and the Milvian Bridge which was originally built in 206 BC by Nero but has been rebuilt many times throughout history. This bridge has become the romantic site for lovers to attach padlocks affirming their love.