The Tiber Island, formerly called Lycaonia, is a small island in the
Tiber River, and the only island in
Rome. Measuring only 67 meters and 269 meters at its widest and longest points, Isola Tiberina is a composed of rubble and layers of river sediment over
tufa, the same stone that makes-up the hills in and around Rome.
The oldest human settlement in the Rome area was quite possibly on the island, as it provided a safe
haven and both strategic and commercial importance. Not until the 8th century B.C., with the advent of better
ranged weaponry, would it have been necessary to control the overbearing
Capitoline hill.
According to a Roman legend, a
plague was raging throughout Rome in 291 B.C. Desperately in need of help, the Republican government sent a delegation to the
Aesculapion in
Epidaurus,
Greece, in hope of obtaining an image of the god
Aesculapius, whose very image was said to have healing powers. The ship returned to Rome with not only the desired image but also with a
huge snake that had come aboard and nestled in the cabin of the head of the delegation. The question of where to house the new
idol, which had been a point of some contention, was decided by the serpent, which left the boat and swam to the island. As this was clearly a sign of divine intent, a temple to Aesculapius was built in honor on the spot where the snake made its home. The remains of the Tiber Island Aesculapion are thought to be under the church of
St. Bartholomew that sits on the downstream end of the island. On the church is inscribed:
IN HAC BASILICA REQUIESCIT CORPUS S.BARTHOLOMAEI APOSTOLI
within this basilica rests the body of the apostle Saint Bartholomew
Inside the church is a
well-head, which is said to mark the spot the snake came ashore. Nineteenth century excavations under the church have unearthed artifacts associated with the
Cult of Aesculapius.
You can now reach Isola Tiberina from either side of the river; by car from the
Trastevere side over the
Pons Cestio or by foot over the
Pons Fabricius, the oldest Roman bridge that survives in the city. Currently on the island is a hotel, a restaurant, a police station, and the
St. Giovanni di Dio Hospital, which dates from 1548 A.D.