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Tiber

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The Tiber is a major river in Italy. It is the longest river in Central Italy. It is also the third-longest river in the entire 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 drains a massive basin. This basin covers a large area of land. The river is famous because it flows through Rome. Rome was founded on the eastern banks of the water. This connection makes the river central to Italian history.

The river begins in the Apennine Mountains. Specifically, it rises at Mount Fumaiolo in the Emilia-Romagna region. The source consists of two separate springs called Le Vene. These springs sit within a beech forest.

Source of Tiber
Source of Tiber

In the 1930s, a marble Roman column was built here. It was commissioned by Benito Mussolini. The column is inscribed with words about the river being sacred to Rome. An eagle sits on top of this column. From its start, the river flows generally south. It travels through Tuscany, Umbria, and Lazio. It also passes the city of Perugia. Along its journey, it joins the River Aniene.

The river reaches the Tyrrhenian Sea at its mouth. It meets the sea between 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 changed over time. It has advanced by about 150 meters since Roman times. This movement left the ancient port of Ostia Antica inland. The river does not form a large delta. This happens because of a strong north-flowing sea current. A steep coast and slow tectonic subsidence also play a role.

History and legend are deeply tied to these waters. Legend says the twin brothers Romulus and Remus were abandoned here. A she-wolf named Lupa rescued them. The river also acted as a boundary for ancient peoples. It separated the Etruscans, the Sabines, and the Latins.

Roman sculpture
Roman sculpture

In Roman times, the river was vital for trade. Ships moved grain from the Val Teverina as early as the fifth century BC. Later, they carried stone, timber, and food to Rome. The port at Ostia became a key naval base during the Punic Wars. It was a major hub for importing wheat, olive oil, and wine.

The Romans used the river in many clever ways. They built the Cloaca Maxima, which was a large sewer system. This system connected the river to an underground network of tunnels. These channels brought water into the center of the city. Wealthy Romans even built garden-parks, called horti, along the banks. However, the river also brought danger through flooding. The Campus Martius was a floodplain that often went under water. One massive flood occurred on 15 September 1557. The water rose over 30 meters above sea level. This disaster caused more than 1,000 deaths.

To manage the water, people built high stone embankments. Work on these walls began in 1876. Today, the riverbanks in the city are lined with boulevards. These streets are called lungoteveri, meaning "along the Tiber."

Rome flood marker
Rome flood marker

You can still see old flood markers on buildings. These markers show how high the water once reached.

tiber in flood
tiber in flood

Many bridges cross the water today. Some are modern, while others are ancient. The Pons Fabricius is an example of a bridge that survived in whole. Other bridges, like the Ponte Milvio, only survive in part.

The Tiber is so important that it has entered the language. To "cross the Tiber" is a phrase for converting to Roman Catholicism. This is a cultural connection between the water and the faith. The river also has a mythological identity. Romans viewed the river as a god named Tiberinus.

Roman sculpture
Roman sculpture

In art, he is shown as a powerful man. Water flows from his hair and his beard. This shows how the people viewed the river as a living force.

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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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