Nero’s Bridge emerges from Tiber River as Rome faces water crisis
ROME (AP) — The remains of an ancient bridge have emerged in Rome’s Tiber River, near St. Peter’s Basilica, as weeks with virtually no rain caused water levels to plunge. The bridge — known as Nero’s Bridge,…
An ancient Roman bridge, known as Nero's Bridge, has emerged from the Tiber River in Rome due to a severe drought, according to a report on August 13, 2026. The bridge, which once connected the city center with the river's right bank, was built not by the infamous emperor Nero, as one might expect, but by his uncle, Emperor Caligula, around 39 AD.
Archaeologist Antonella Bonini from Rome's cultural heritage superintendency noted that while the bridge is often associated with Nero due to its proximity to Nero's circus and the later location of St. Peter's Basilica, it predates Nero's rule by several decades.
The Tiber River's water levels have plummeted to a mere 80 cubic meters (2,825 cubic feet) per second, roughly half of the historical average for July. This drastic drop in water flow, attributed to an unusually prolonged dry spell following a winter with above-average rainfall, has sparked concerns about a significant water crisis in Rome.
Giovanni Giganti, coordinator of Rome's civil protection service's center for water management, highlighted the urgency of the situation, emphasizing that such prolonged dry periods, compounded by irregular rainfall patterns, are creating a critical water management challenge for the city.
Written by urgent.news from Associated Press's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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