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WALKING TOURS OF ROME

River Island

19/9/2019

 
Map
The Tiber Island (Isola Tiberina), Rome
The Tiber Island (Isola Tiberina)

The Isola Tiberina (Tiber Island) has long been associated with medicine and healing.

The island was once the site of the ancient Temple of Aesculapius (early 3rd century BCE) and since the late 16th century it has been home to the Fatebenefratelli Hospital (
officially the Ospedale San Giovanni Calibita Fatebenefratelli). 

The Temple of Aesculapius was dedicated in 293 BCE. Following a particularly bad outbreak of the plague, the Senate sent a delegation to Epidauros, reputed to be the birthplace of Asclepius, the Greek god of healing, and home to the most famous temple of the god.

In honour of Asclepius, a particular type of non-venomous snake was often used in healing rituals, and the snakes crawled around freely on the floors of dormitories in which the sick and injured slept. Such snakes were introduced at the founding of each new temple of Asclepius. 

Upon the delegation's return to Rome, a snake is said to have slithered off the ship and swam onto the Isola Tiberina. Believing this to be a propitious sign, a temple to Aesculapius was duly built on the island. 

In time the Isola Tiberina became so identified with the Temple of Aesculapius that it was actually modelled to resemble a ship as a reminder of its origins. Faint vestiges of the god, holding a rod entwined with a snake, are still visible on the 'prow'. 


The island is still considered a place of healing, on account of the presence of the Fatebenefratelli Hospital, which was established in 1585. The hospital, which is run by the Brothers Hospitallers of Saint John of God, was not built on the site of the temple, but stands on the western half of the island. 

The church of San Bartolomeo all' Isola now stands on the site of the Temple of Aesculpaius.

The Rod of Aesculapius, Isola Tiberina, Rome
The remains of the 'prow'
The Rod of Aesculapius, Isola Tiberina, Rome
The Rod of Aesculapius
The Tiber Island, Rome
The Tiber Island (west end)
Statue of St John of the Cross, Fatebenefratelli Hospital, Rome
St John of the Cross
San Bartolomeo all' Isola, Rome
San Bartolomeo all' Isola

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    Walking Tours For Discerning Travellers

    My name is David Lown and I am an art historian from Cambridge, England. Since 2001 I have lived in Italy, where I run private and
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    of Rome.

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  • Home
  • Private Tours
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  • Contact
  • Blog
  • St Peter's Basilica
    • Altars >
      • Altar of St Joseph
      • Altar of St Gregory the Great
      • Altar of the Madonna of Succour
      • Altar of St Sebastian
      • Altar of the Lie
      • Altar of the Presentation of the Virgin
      • Altar of St Jerome
      • Altar of the Transfiguration
      • Altar of Pope Leo the Great
    • Monuments >
      • Countess Matilda of Canossa
      • Maria Clementina Sobieska
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      • Pope Pius X
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      • The Stuarts
    • Portico >
      • Door of Death
      • Door of Good and Evil
      • Central Door
      • Door of the Sacraments
      • Holy Door
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    • Chapel of the Blessed Sacrament
    • Cathedra Petri
    • Crossing >
      • Baldacchino
      • Confessio
      • Dome
      • St Longinus
      • St Helena
      • St Veronica
      • St Andrew
    • St Peter
    • Chapel of the Choir
    • Chapel of the Baptistery
    • Nave
  • Sistine Chapel
    • North Wall
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      • Ceiling: Part Two
      • Ceiling: Part Three
    • The Last Judgement
  • Fountains
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    • Fontana della Barcaccia
    • Fountain of the Triton
    • Fountain of the Bees
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    • Fountain of the Cannonball
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    • St Peter's Square
    • Fountain of the Moor
    • Fountain of Neptune
    • Fountain of the Porter
    • Fountain of the Seahorses
  • Gallery
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      • Piazza del Campidglio
      • Piazza del Quirinale
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