Tiber river cruises: see Rome from the water

Tiber river cruises: See Rome from the water

From the top of one of its seven hills; from one of the many panoramic terraces on top of the luxury hotels and historic palaces; from one of the city’s many  belvederes or from the heart of the narrow streets of the centre: which offers the best perspective from which to admire the grandeur and beauty of Rome? It is hard to say, but an fresh and interesting view of the city can be enjoyed skirting the banks of the Tiber on board a riverboat. The most popular route is from the Isola Tiberina (Lungotevere degli Anguillara) to Ponte Risorgimento and vice versa. There are also companies running river trips that offer a route from Ponte Marconi towards Ostia Antica, following in the wake of ancient Roman trade and commerce.

Rome Boat, the capital by water

From April to October (subject to weather conditions and river level), Rome Boat runs a service that includes a hop-on hop-off option as an alternative way of getting around the capital by river. There are four stops including the Isola Tiberina pier (Lungotevere degli Anguillara) and the Palazzo di Giustizia pier (Lungotevere Prati), stopping also at the piers of Castel Sant’Angelo (Lungotevere Tor di Nona) and Ponte Sisto (Lungotevere dei Tebaldi). The service runs every 30 minutes between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. and navigates the river as far as Ponte Nenni.

An audio guide is available in seven languages (Chinese, French, English, Italian, Spanish, German and Russian), and will tell you about the most famous landmarks and monuments that can be spotted from the boat – from the Isola Tiberina, the centre of so many ancient Roman legends, to Castel Sant'Angelo – as well as many lesser-known aspects of the city’s and the Tiber’s history.

The bridges of Rome

The bridges spanning the river at various points are a central attraction on the: the most unique is the Ponte Sisto, locally known as the ‘Bridge of the Occhialone [eyelet]’, which connects Piazza Trilussa to Trastevere with the Lungotevere dei Tebaldi. It was commissioned by Pope Sixtus IV for the Jubilee of 1475, renovating an ancient Roman bridge, and owes its curious nickname to an ingenious architectural and engineering feat: it has the characteristic wide arches and, on the central column, the occhialone, an oculus designed to monitor the flow of the river and predict floods, inspiring the local proverb ‘so 'dolori se l'acqua ariva all’occhialone’ [pain follows if water reaches the oculus]. In addition, the oculus frames the terrace of the Vatican’s Nicchione del Belvedere, offering unique perspective. Rome Boat also offers the one round cruise – that follows the same route but allows you to board or disembark from each embarkation point once within one hour – or the cruise with aperitif which, from Thursday to Sunday, includes a glass of wine and some snacks (boats are also available for private hire).

The same tour operator also offers walking tours to discover the beauty of the city on foot.

Riverboat towards Ostia

Going in the opposite direction, other companies organise boat trips to Ostia Antica and Fiumicino, where the river flows into the Tyrrhenian Sea. Gite sul Tevere, for example, can be booked with departure at 10 a.m. all year round except January and offers a cruise with stories and explanations of the sights along the way. In two and a half hours it takes you from Ponte Marconi to Ostia Antica or close to the Porto di Traiano (or vice versa) crossing vast green areas rich in fauna before arriving at the ancient Roman ports. The boats of the fleet are also available on reservation for trips for individuals or groups and for private or corporate events. The company also offers river cruises through the historic centre of Rome on board the Agrippina Maggiore, which departs from the Ponte Umberto to the Ponte Flaminio and Isola Tiberina.

All abord the Grand Tour

From March to November, every Sunday with departure at 10.00 a.m. and only if booked in advance, The Grand Tour offers a complete six-hour package that includes a river cruise from Ponte Marconi to Ostia Antica with nature and historical commentary and a guided visit to the interesting archaeological excavations of the ancient Roman coastal city (entrance ticket to be paid separately), as well as breakfast on board.