FROM 7 TO 13 OCTOBER 2024, ROME HOSTED THE SIXTH EDITION OF TEVERE DAY, AN EVENT AIMED AT BRINGING THE TIBER BACK TO THE CENTER OF CITY LIFE AND RAISING THE POPULATION’S AWARENESS OF THE IMPORTANCE OF ITS PROTECTION. THE INITIATIVE, BORN BY THE TEVEREDAY ASSOCIATION IN 2019, HAD AS ITS OBJECTIVE THE ENHANCEMENT AND RECOVERY OF THE RIVER, INVOLVING INSTITUTIONS, CITIZENS AND ASSOCIATIONS IN A RICH PROGRAM OF OVER ONE HUNDRED EVENTS. THESE TOOK PLACE ALONG THE 80 KILOMETERS OF THE BANKS OF THE WATER, TOUCHING BOTH THE HISTORIC CENTER AND THE OUTSKIRTS OF THE CAPITAL WITH ACTIVITIES SUCH AS BICYCLE RIDES, APERITIFS ON BOATS, EXHIBITIONS, SPORTS COMPETITIONS AND GUIDED TOURS. IN THE REST OF THE COUNTRY, OTHER TWIN INITIATIVES ARE COMMITTED TO THE PROTECTION OF RIVERS
Tiber Day: a commitment shared by the institutions
The demonstration took place in the Capitol, in the presence of prominent figures from the Capitoline and regional administration, including Svetlana Cellipresident ofCapitoline Assembly e Sabrina AlfonsiCouncilor for Agriculture, Environment and Waste Cycle. The latter underlined the role of the Tiber in view of the Jubilee 2025.
In view of this important religious event, the authorities have planned redevelopment interventions on the banks of the waterway, with the creation of five parks overlooking the Jubilee: Foro Italico, Lungotevere delle Navi, Ponte Milvio, Acqua Acetosa and Ostia Antica.
These new green spaces will allow citizens and visitors to establish a closer connection with the river, transforming it into a usable ecosystem, integrated both with the Roman coastline and with the rich naturalistic heritage of the city.
Furthermore, the stretch of the Tiber that runs through the historic center of Rome will be included in the UNESCO world heritage list, a recognition that establishes its inestimable historical and cultural value. But let’s get to know this river more closely.
The Tiber, characteristics, history and legend
The Tiber, the river that runs through the heart of Rome, brings with it a thousand-year history intertwined with the origins and destiny of the Eternal City. Its course, approximately 405 kilometers long, makes it the third longest river in Italy, after the Po and the Adige. Its source is located on Mount Fumaiolo, in the Tuscan-Emilian Apennines, and from there it flows southwards until it flows into the Tyrrhenian Sea, near Ostia.
The legend of Romulus and Remus
Since ancient times, the river has been the protagonist of myths and stories, the most famous of which is the legend of Romulus and Remus, the founders of the Caput Mundi.
The twins, children of the god Mars and the vestal Rhea Silvia, were abandoned in a basket and left in the Tiber river by order of Amulius, the usurper of the throne of Alba Longa. However, the waters of the river, a symbol of life and protection, gently carried the basket to the slopes of the Palatine Hill.
Here, a she-wolf found and fed the two little ones, taking care of them in their first years of life. This episode, rich in symbolism, is not only a story of survival, but represents the first manifestation of divine will in protecting the twins, destined to found Rome.
The myth of Romulus and Remus strengthened the image of the Tiber as a protective and sacred element, which guides and preserves the two twins, leading them towards the fulfillment of a grandiose destiny: the foundation of Rome.
The legend of Tiberinus and the origins of the name Tiber
The cult of Tiberinus, the river god closely linked to the Tiber, is also connected to this founding legend. Originally, the river was called “Albula”, “clear”, “white” a Latin term that evoked the purity and clarity of its waters. However, its name changed following an ancient mythological episode.
Legend has it that Tiberino Silvio, a king of ancient Alba Longa – one of the oldest cities in Lazio founded by the descendants of Aeneas – drowned in its waters. In his honor, the course was renamed ““Tiber”the name from which the current one derives “Tiber”. This passage marked the transformation of the river into a mythological symbol.
But Tiberinus did not remain just an ancient ruler: his figure merged with that of the river deity venerated by the Romans. As god of the Tiber, Tiberinus was worshiped as the guardian and protector of its waters.
In classical iconography, he was depicted as a powerful man, with a crown of reeds on his head, an emblem of the strength and fertility of the river. Tiberinus was also believed to guide the souls of those who drowned in the Tiber waters to the afterlife. Which gave the watercourse a sacred and solemn aura.
The Tiber, therefore, is not just a geographical element, but a mythological protagonist that has shaped both the history and collective consciousness of Rome. This dual role, as a historic and sacred river, perfectly embodies its centrality in the foundation and development of the city, making it a witness and guardian of its greatness since ancient times.
The historical role of the Tiber
Since the dawn of Roman civilization, the Tiber has played a fundamental role in the development of the city. Its waters favored trade and agriculture, making Rome a strategic center in the Mediterranean.
The first communities that settled along its banks found the river a source of livelihood and an important communication route.
For example, the port of Ostia, located at its mouth, soon became one of the main commercial hubs of ancient Rome, capable of facilitating the exchange of goods and resources between the City and the rest of the empire.
Curiosities and stories related to the river
In addition to legends, the Tiber is associated with numerous historical and cultural curiosities. One of these concerns the ancient phenomenon of floods. For centuries, the unbanked river frequently flooded the city, causing serious damage but also fertilizing the surrounding land. Its floods became a part of Roman life, so much so that the people often attributed a divine meaning to them, interpreting the floods as signs of the will of the gods.
In the Renaissance, the Tiber became a sort of “motorway” to transport building materials and works of art: the famous Egyptian obelisks, which today adorn many squares in Rome, were transported along the river to the capital.
A green lung
Today the Tiber represents a real green lung for the city of Rome, thanks above all to the rich biodiversity that characterizes its banks. Along the course of the river you can observe different species of flora and fauna, which contribute to creating a varied and vital ecosystem.
The riparian vegetation, i.e. relating to the banks, mainly composed of poplars, willows and alders, plays a fundamental role in protecting the banks from erosion and in guaranteeing a safe habitat for numerous animal species. Alongside trees, reeds and aquatic plants provide shelter and food for many creatures.
Among the fauna species that populate the waters and surroundings of the Tiber, aquatic birds stand out, such as herons, egrets and cormorants, which take advantage of the wetlands to nest and hunt. Ducks and mallards are also a common presence, while it is not uncommon to spot birds of prey, such as the peregrine falcon, flying over the river in search of prey. Furthermore, the waters of the Tiber are home to various species of fish, including carp, pike and mullet, a sign of a constantly improving river habitat thanks to recent reclamation interventions.
A cycle path between nature and history
Along the banks of the Tiber, the neighborhoods have developed in harmony with the surrounding nature and the creation of parks and cycle routes has made the river an ideal destination for those who want to immerse themselves in greenery without straying too far from the city center. The Tiber cycle path is an option much appreciated by Romans and tourists, as it allows you to travel a long journey immersed in the beauty of the river landscape.
The route, which runs for around 30 kilometres, starts from the Ponte della Musica, located in the Flaminio neighbourhood, and reaches Ostia, on the Roman coast. During the route, cyclists and pedestrians can enjoy suggestive views, crossing the green areas that run along the river, such as the Parco della Resistenza and the Park of Villa Doria Pamphili.
The cycle path is equipped with clear signs and rest areas, thus guaranteeing a safe and accessible route for all cyclists.
This infrastructure not only promotes a healthy and active lifestyle, but also offers a unique opportunity to reconnect with the natural environment, enjoying outdoor activities away from the urban frenzy.
Furthermore, along the route, there are numerous points of historical and cultural interest, including churches, monuments and archaeological areas, which enrich the experience of those who decide to explore the river by bicycle. This combination of nature and culture has made the Tiber not only a place of leisure, but also an important path for valorising the historical and natural heritage of the capital. But let’s get to the event.
Tiber Day between culture and sport
The Tiber Day program involves various cultural and sporting realities, with initiatives ranging from cultural walks in collaboration with the Touring Club Italianoto outdoor sporting events, up to aperitifs on boats under the river bridges.
This wide range of activities not only aims to bring citizens closer to the river, «but also to promote a new way of experiencing Rome, beyond the best-known tourist attractions»as he pointed out Alessandro Onoratocouncilor for major events, sport, tourism and fashion.
The environmental challenge and waste management
In parallel with the cultural and recreational aspect, Tiber Day aims to shine a spotlight on the sustainable management of natural resources and the waste cycle. Sabrina Alfonsi highlighted the work done to integrate the river with the green heritage of the city, and the waste reduction plan is an integral part of this project. The objective is to improve the quality of the waters of the river and make the Tiber a symbol of environmental sustainability for the capital.
Similar initiatives throughout Italy
Attention to the protection of waterways is not limited to the Tiber. Throughout Italy, many initiatives aim to raise awareness about the protection of water resources. For example, Legambiente organizes events such as the Big Jump, a symbolic dive into rivers across Europe to raise public awareness of the need for hydrological and geomorphological renaturalisation projects.
The objective is to give space back to waterways and promote river restoration interventions, essential to slow down the current, encourage water infiltration and recharge the aquifers. These interventions, also foreseen in National Plan for Adaptation to Climate Changeaim to reconnect and redevelop 25 thousand km of artificial rivers across Europe.
Other projects, such as the redevelopment of the Navigli in Milan or the reclamation of the Sarno river in Campania, demonstrate that the protection of rivers is a priority for many Italian regions. The Gran Paradiso National Park, with its mountain streams and lakes, is another example of how the sustainable management of water resources can create a development model that respects the environment and is in harmony with the needs of the territory.