Tiberina Island

Tiberina, or Tiber Island, is a small elongated island on the Tiber River, south of the Vatican. Its length is 270 meters and width is 67.

According to legend, this island was formed from mud and mud, which stuck to the corpse of the tyrant Tarquinius the Proud, thrown into the river by the rebellious Romans. Tiberina is actually volcanic.

For many years, the island of Tiberina enjoyed a bad reputation and remained uninhabited until 293 BC. At that time, the plague was raging, and in the midst of the epidemic, the Senate decided to establish on the island the sanctuary of Aesculapus, the god of healing. It was believed that this idea was born after a snake crawled out from the shore of the island, which is known to be a symbol of the god of healing. In memory of this, the island was shaped like a boat, lined the coast with travertine, installed an obelisk, which is now replaced by a column with images.

In 998, the Roman Emperor Otto III founded a church on the island, wishing to perpetuate the memory of St. Adalbert of Prague. Now it is the Basilica of San Bartolomeo with the relics of the Apostle Bartholomew. Two bridges lead to the island: from the right bank the Fabricio Bridge (62 BC), and from the left on the Cestio Bridge (46 BC). In summer, the island of Tiberina is very popular - there is an open-air cinema, and in a small market you can buy souvenirs and taste the national cuisine.