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Tiber

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The Tiber is a very important river in Italy. It is the longest river in Central Italy. It is also the third-longest river in the whole country.

0 Tibre - Pont Vittorio Emanuele II - San Spirito in Sassia - St-Pierre (Vatican)
0 Tibre - Pont Vittorio Emanuele II - San Spirito in Sassia - St-Pierre (Vatican)

The river starts high up in the Apennine Mountains. It begins at Mount Fumaiolo in the Emilia-Romagna region. Two separate springs called Le Vene create the water. These springs are located inside a beech forest.

Source of Tiber
Source of Tiber

In the 1930s, a marble column was built there. The column has an eagle on top of it.

The river flows in a southerly direction. It travels through the regions of Tuscany, Umbria, and Lazio. Along its path, it joins the River Aniene. It also flows past the city of Perugia. Eventually, the water reaches the Tyrrhenian Sea. It meets the sea between the places called Ostia and Fiumicino.

Comune di Fiumicino and the Tiber River, near Rome
Comune di Fiumicino and the Tiber River, near Rome

The mouth of the river has moved forward by about 150 meters since Roman times. This change left the old port of Ostia Antica inland.

Many people associate the Tiber with the history of Rome. The city was founded on the eastern banks of the river in 753 BC. Legend says the brothers Romulus and Remus were left on its waters. A she-wolf named Lupa rescued them.

Roman sculpture
Roman sculpture

The river was a busy path for trade and commerce. Ships carried grain, stone, and timber up the river. They also brought olive oil and wine from far away. The Romans even built a sewer system called the Cloaca Maxima to connect with it.

Living near the river could be difficult because of floods. The Campus Martius area was a plain that flooded often. One major flood happened on 15 September 1557. The water rose over 30 meters above sea level. Sadly, more than 1,000 people died in that event.

tiber in flood
tiber in flood

To stay safe, high stone embankments were built starting in 1876. These walls now keep the river in its place. You can also see old flood markers on buildings today.

Rome flood marker
Rome flood marker

Today, the Tiber is a famous part of the landscape. Many beautiful bridges cross over the water. Some are very old, like the Pons Fabricius. Others are used by modern metro trains in tunnels. The river is so linked to the city that people use special phrases about it. For example, "crossing the Tiber" can mean joining the Catholic Church. It remains a central part of life in Italy.

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🖼️ Images & Media (6)
File:0 Tibre - Pont Vittorio Emanuele II - San Spirito in Sassia - St-Pierre (Vatican).jpg
0 Tibre - Pont Vittorio Emanuele II - San...
File:Rome flood marker.jpg
Rome flood marker.jpg
File:tiber in flood.jpg
tiber in flood.jpg
File:Source of Tiber.JPG
Source of Tiber.JPG
File:Roman sculpture.jpg
Roman sculpture.jpg
File:Comune di Fiumicino and the Tiber River, near Rome.jpg
Comune di Fiumicino and the Tiber River,...
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