Ancient Roman bridge emerges from drought-stricken Tiber in Rome
A drought in Rome has exposed the ruins of an ancient bridge, traditionally linked to Emperor Nero, from the Tiber river.
The severe drought gripping Italy has revealed a piece of ancient Roman history in the heart of Rome. The ruins of a bridge traditionally known as the Pons Neronis, or Nero's Bridge, have resurfaced from the Tiber river due to critically low water levels.
The stone pillar, located near St Peter's Basilica, has emerged as the Italian capital experiences weeks without significant rainfall. According to Rome's civil protection agency, the Tiber's average flow rate in the urban stretch has fallen below 80 cubic meters per second, compared to a historical average of around 150.
Antonella Bonini, an archaeologist at Rome's cultural heritage superintendence, explained that the bridge is known to reappear when the river's water level drops. She noted that while the structure is traditionally named after Nero, scholars believe it was actually built by his uncle, Emperor Caligula, around 39 AD. The bridge connected the central Campus Martius with the Ager Vaticanus, passing near the villa of Agrippina and the Circus of Nero, the site where St Peter is believed to have been martyred.
Bonini added that the bridge was likely out of use by the late 3rd or early 4th century, as it is absent from the Cataloghi Regionari, the ancient registers of Rome's monuments, which list the Pons Aelius (the bridge leading to Castel Sant'Angelo) instead.
Giovanni Giganti, coordinator of Rome's Civil Protection centre for water management, described the situation as a major water crisis. He attributed the low water levels to prolonged dry periods and a scarcity of snow in the Apennines, despite a relatively rainy winter.
The drought is not confined to Rome. The Po River, Italy's longest, is also facing severe conditions, prompting authorities to urge mayors to restrict the use of drinking water for non-essential purposes like filling swimming pools and washing cars. The extreme heat across Europe this summer has led to wildfires, record temperatures, and significant strain on infrastructure and public health systems.