COMENIUS PROJECT EUROPEAN BRIDGES:REAL AND IMAGINEDBRIDGES ON THE

TIBER RIVER

THE RIVER TIBER IN UMBRIA

It is the longest river in the Central Italy (405 Km). It comes from a spring of the mountain Fumaiolo and it flows into the Tyirrhenian sea, nearby Rome. Tiber river crosses 4 Italian regions: Emilia Romagna, Tuscany, Umbria and Lazio. This river passes next to two important towns of Umbria: Perugia and Assisi.

THE TIBER RIVER

In ancient times, along its banks, many villages were born and a bridge was built in each village. The first bridges were in wood, then they were built with stone. Many of those villages, in their names, still retain the word bridge (in Italian ponte): like for example Ponte San Giovanni, Ponte Pattoli, Ponte Felcino, Ponte Valleceppi, Ponte Rio....

Ponte San Giovanni

The Tiber nearby Ponte Valleceppi

Bridges were used to cross the Tiber, beacuse its waters were very dangerous in the past; today, instead, they are much more calm.

The areas where the Tiber flows are rich of history. In fact there are many historical ruins dating to the Etruscan and Roman periods and buildings made by the noble families of ancient times. In Umbria, where the Tiber passes, there are many churches and monasteries.

The Tiber in the past

MONASTERY SANTA MARIA VAL DI PONTE

CLOISTER OF THE ABBEY

The river leaves Umbria and enters Lazio, in the nearby of Orte. Along the banks of the Tiber, next to Tiberina island, in 753 b.C., the city of Rome was founded.

There is a famous legend telling the story of the foundation of Rome, the legend of Romulus and Remus.

THE TIBER AND ROME

Rhea Silvia, the daughter of King Amulius, had t twin sons from god Mars: Romulus and Remus. Their uncle, the brother of their grandfather Amulio, was afraid that the twin brothers could become king in his place and therefore he abandoned them in a basket on the river Tiber. A she-wolf found them and nursed them.

When they became adults the twin brothers were informed about their story and took revenge of their uncle. They decided to found a city in the place where they were found by the she- woolf. But they had a quarrel because each one wanted to give his name to the city. Romulus traced the border of the city with the plow, but Remus crossed the border and therefore his brother killed him. It was the year 753 b.C.

THE LEGEND OF ROME

From the marriage between Rhea Silvia and god Mars, two twin brothers were born: Romulus and Remus.

Their uncle abandoned the twin brothers on the river Tiber.

Romulus and Remus were found by a she-woolf.

Romulus and Remus were raised by a shepherd.

When they grew up, they killed their uncle because he had abandoned them.

Romulus and Remus had a quarrel: each one wanted to give his name to the city that they were going to found.

Romulus traced a furrow and Remus crossed it.

Romulus killed his twin brother and gave his name to the city. It was the year 753 b.C.

The symbol of Rome: the Capitoline she-woolf.

On the banks of the river Tiber grows a wonderful vegetation. Here you can see a daffodil.

Liverwort

Wild plum

Buckthorn

Tussilaggine

Genista

White poplar

The pupils and teachers who wrote this text send you their best wishes.