Drought in Rome Reveals Ancient Nero's Bridge in Tiber

A severe drought in Rome has exposed the ancient remains of Nero's Bridge in the Tiber River, offering a rare glimpse of the 2,000-year-old structure that is usually submerged. The bridge, which once connected the city center to the Vatican area, is now visible as water levels have dropped to about half the seasonal average Source: AP News. The last time the ruins were seen was during a similar drought in 2022 Source: CNN.

The bridge's history

Scholars believe the bridge was built by Emperor Caligula around 39 AD, but it is named after his nephew Nero, who renamed several structures after himself during his rule (54–68 AD) Source: CNN. The bridge originally linked the Campus Martius area—now home to the Spanish Steps and Via Condotti—to the Circus of Nero, where St. Peter was martyred and where St. Peter's Basilica now stands Source: CNN.

Water crisis

Rome's civil protection coordinator, Giovanni Giganti, described the situation as a "major water crisis," noting that despite abundant winter rainfall, prolonged dry periods have depleted the river Source: AP News. The low water has also revealed modern debris, including e-bikes, scooters, refrigerators, and a car upstream Source: CNN.

Key points

• The Tiber's flow has fallen below 80 cubic meters per second, about half the July average Source: AP News.
• The bridge is best viewed from the Bridge of Angels near Castel Sant'Angelo Source: CNN.
• Archaeologist Antonella Bonini highlighted the bridge's connection to Nero's circus and St. Peter's martyrdom Source: AP News.

While sources agree on the bridge's origins and the drought's severity, CNN emphasizes the bridge's visibility as a rare opportunity for study, whereas AP News focuses on the broader water crisis affecting the city.