The Tiber River

John and I have a special love for cities that are bisected by rivers. Think of Paris, Boston, Chicago, or Istanbul. Rome with its rich history has many bridges and so many views of its wonderful river, the Tiber. Look at the Ponte Fabricio (above) built in 62 BC and the oldest, original Roman bridge still in use.

Or how about another footbridge, Ponte Sisto, built in the late 15th Century by Pope Sixtus IV to replace an old Roman bridge. You can see the debris caught by the bridge during the spring high waters. 

The view along the quayside is always fascinating. 

It would be wrong to forget the wonderful Ponte Sant'Angelo lined with Bernini's angels and leading to the Castel Sant'Angelo which was originally built as Emperor Hadrian's Mausoleum in 139 AD and later made into a fortress and named after Pope Gregory the Great's vision of the Archangel Michael.

From its quay you can see Ponte Umberto and the dome of San Rocco in the distance in one direction.

In the other direction you can see Ponte Vittorio Emanuele II and the dome of St Peter's Basilica framed by the arches.

Here's a view of the Ponte Sant'Angelo and St Peter's dome from Ponte Umberto. This was taken early in our visit to Rome when the river was still flooded with spring waters.

Here's a closer look at Ponte Vittorio Emanuele II which crosses to the Vatican and in the other direction becomes a major artery crossing central Rome, Via Vittorio Emanuele II.

We'll leave our tour of the Tiber and its bridges with a view of Ponte Principe Amedeo Savoia Aosta, laden with tour buses headed to the Vatican. In the background you can see the lovely Janiculum Hill.