- The river Tiber is a 252 miles (406 km) long Italian river that rises in the Appenines, passes through Rome and reaches the Mediterranean Sea at Ostia.
Tiber Island
- Tiber Island in Rome held the Temple of Asclepius in Rome, a Roman Hospital.
Docks of Ancient Rome
Bridges over the Tiber
Roads crossing the Tiber
- Via Campana:
- This followed the valley of the Tiber. It departed from the Pons Aemilius in Rome.
- Via Portuensis:
- This was started by Claudius, and extended by Trajan from Rome to Portus.
- It ran near the west bank of the Tiber departing from the Pons Aemilius in Rome with the Via Campana before diverging into the hills.
- After Constantine I, this became the main road to the coast, and the older Via Ostiensis declined in importance.
- Via Ostiensis:
Towpath
- A Roman towpath ran along the western side of the Tiber between Rome and Ostia, and was specifically for oxen to haul the barges upriver, as described by Procopius. The first river crossing was at the Pons Aemilius. There may have been a ferry below that point.
Roads to the Ports
- The Via Ostiensis ran ran between Ostia and Rome to the south of the Tiber, only running along its bank for a short distance.
- The Via Portuensis, built by Claudius (41-54 CE) ran between Portus and Rome to the north of the Tiber. The route was shared with the Via Campana and then split halfway before the roads rejoined to enter Rome together at the Pons Aemilius.
Ostia
- Ostia was the first port of Rome.
Portus
- Portus became the main port for Rome when it was constructed by Claudius in 42 CE. It was later expanded by Trajan (98-117 CE).
View from Ponte Umberto I of Ponte San Angelo, Rome