Australian flag carrier Qantas was obliged to ground an international flight between Perth and Rome on Friday 9 October 2026, after bedbugs were found on board. The critters were discovered among seats at the front of the plane’s economy section, resulting in the aircraft being removed from service for deep cleaning on arrival in Italy, and causing the cancellation of the next day’s return.

Human passengers expecting to make the long-haul intercontinental trip were accommodated in the Italian capital and rebooked onto alternative flights within 48 hours of their planned trip. Meanwhile, a Qantas spokesperson said the aircraft in question was inspected by engineers and deep cleaned by maintenance staff. The airline issued an apology to affected flyers and insisted its fleet is cleaned thoroughly and disinfected every 50 days in line with standard practice.

Passengers traveling with Qantas from #Italy to #Australia failed to arrive in #Perth as planned over the weekend, after their flight was canceled due to a reported case of bedbugs. #avgeeks #aviationnews #airlines https://t.co/KLvEGlRY3d

— alsaeed (@alimsaeed604) October 13, 2026

An adult bedbug is a tiny parasitic insect resembling an apple seed in size and colour. Bedbugs are nocturnal and feed on human blood, capable of consuming many times their weight in one sitting and causing small blood stains on sheets and itchy welts on the victim. They do not spread disease and cannot fly (unless on an aircraft!) but move very quickly and, as they hide in dark crevices, can be hard to find—and even harder to eliminate, requiring washing at temperatures above 55°C and, often, fumigation. While they may be negatively associated with poverty and multi-occupancy buildings, they infest a range of environments and are frequently transported by unwitting international travellers.

The incident is not the first time bedbugs have made headlines in travel sector news. At the time of the Paris Olympics in 2024, hysteria abounded around bedbugs found and photographed on Paris transport systems. The United Kingdom is currently experiencing one of the worst bedbug outbreaks in years, various outlets have reported, with The Times citing a bedbug monitor which has found bedbug cases “rising by between 20 and 25 per cent a year in London and other big European cities.”

Southeastern train services, operating in the UK’s southern regions of East Sussex, Kent, and Greater London, were cancelled two weeks ago for cleaning, and a library in Eastbourne on the country’s “sunshine coast” was closed for cleaning after the creatures were found there too.

Anyone who thinks they have found bedbugs in their home should confirm the infestation, then attempt to contain the spread, clean and treat affected items, and contact a professional pest control service.

L’article Bedbug infestation grounds Qantas flight in Italy est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

All arrivals and departures at Catania-Fontanarossa Airport have been suspended until 11:59 pm local time on Monday, 28 September, according to airport operator SAC. The decision follows continued volcanic ash emissions from Mount Etna and weather conditions carrying ash into airspace used by aircraft.

Passengers have been advised to check the status of their flight directly with their airline before travelling to the airport, with further updates expected depending on volcanic activity and weather conditions.

The disruption began on Saturday, 26 September, when volcanic activity and weather conditions forced authorities to suspend both incoming and outgoing flights. Restrictions continued throughout Sunday before being extended again on Monday.

Catania is Sicily’s busiest airport and Italy’s fifth busiest by passenger traffic, making prolonged closures particularly disruptive for tourism and connectivity on the island.

A summer of disruption

The latest shutdown is far from an isolated incident. Mount Etna, Europe’s highest and most active volcano, has caused repeated disruption at Catania throughout the summer of 2026.

On 14 September, flights were again suspended because of volcanic ash, just weeks after a much longer period of disruption in August.

As Travel Tomorrow reported in August, another eruptive phase forced Catania Airport to suspend incoming flights on 10 August after ash drifted into surrounding airspace. At the time, the Volcano Observatory Notice for Aviation was at red, the highest aviation colour code.

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The situation subsequently deteriorated. During the August disruption, the airport remained affected for five consecutive days, with hundreds of flights cancelled or rerouted during the peak Italian summer travel season. Reuters reported that 36% of nearly 2,000 flights scheduled to arrive in Catania between 6 and 12 August were cancelled, while more than 600 were diverted to airports including Palermo, Trapani, Comiso and Lamezia Terme.

That episode followed another major disruption on 7 July where around 130 flights were cancelled and approximately 50 diverted after an eruption sent large clouds of ash into the sky and forced the suspension of all arrivals and departures at Catania.

The problem predates this summer. In July 2024, another Etna eruption forced Catania Airport to suspend flights, affecting an estimated 15,000 passengers and resulting in around 90 initial cancellations. A similar situation ocurred in August 2023, when an eruption of Mount Etna once again forced the closure of Sicily’s main airport.

Why volcanic ash is dangerous for aircraft

Although Mount Etna erupts frequently, volcanic ash presents a specific risk to aviation. Fine ash particles can reduce visibility and enter aircraft engines, where the high temperatures can cause them to melt and potentially damage critical components.

“Volcanic ash can be a great risk for aircraft,” Boris Behncke, a researcher at Italy’s National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology’s Etna Observatory, previously explained. “It can be sucked into the motors, and force them to stall.”

The recurrent closures underline the challenge faced by Catania Airport, located around 30 kilometres south of the volcano, as Etna’s activity repeatedly intersects with one of southern Italy’s most important aviation and tourism gateways.

The latest disruption has also put additional pressure on other Sicilian airports. During the weekend, aircraft were diverted to Palermo, Comiso and Trapani, contributing to congestion elsewhere in the island’s transport network.

With the situation remaining dependent on volcanic activity, ash dispersion and wind direction, passengers travelling to or from Catania are advised to continue monitoring their airline’s information before heading to the airport.

L’article Mount Etna ash shuts Catania Airport for third consecutive day est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

During the 12^th edition of the World Spa Awards, the world’s most outstanding spas, wellness retreats, brands, and experiences were put in the spotlights. Italy proved to be the World’s Best Spa Destination of 2026 amidst a long list of competitors, inviting tourists to discover the country in what is perhaps a more unusual way. 

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“For twelve years, World Spa Awards has celebrated the exceptional organisations and individuals shaping the future of global spa and wellness. This year’s winners represent the very highest standards of excellence, innovation and guest experience, demonstrating the continued vitality and evolution of our industry. Their achievements inspire travellers around the world and reaffirm the important role that spa and wellness play in enhancing wellbeing and quality of life,” said Rebecca Cohen, Managing Director of World Spa Awards.

Not only did Italy as a whole come out a the top of the list, some of the country’s most prestigious wellness locations were awarded individually as well.

The Lefay Spa World at Lefay Resort and Spa Dolomiti in Pinzolo was named the ‘World’s Best Resort Spa’. Spanning over 5,000 square metres, the spa combines natural wellbeing with innovation. While enjoying the mountainous views, visitors can enjoy nine saunas through five different circuits, a selection of indoor and outdoor pools, as well as a personalised treatment offer. Lefay Spa World has won multiple awards in the past and its celebration during the World Spa Awards can be considered an affirmation of its impeccable reputation.

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The Palazzo Fiuggi retained its title as ‘World’s Best Wellness Retreat’. Its 6,000 square metres of wellness and medical spa facilities were designed to “encourage relaxation and promote a lifelong approach to wellness”. Here, spa-goers can choose for a medical package including treatments such as cryotherapy, IV drips, and blood analysis, or for a wellness package blending saunas, sound healing, and light therapy. Their reproduction of ancient Roman baths deserves a special mention and allows visitors to enjoy the premises as people did thousands of years ago.

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Finally, the Grotta Giusti Thermal Spa Resort in Monsummano Terme was able to take home the unique title of ‘World’s Best Thermal Grotto Spa 2026’. The spa combines the healing powers of thermal water with a great sense of history – not only is the spa partially located in the largest natural thermal grotto in Europe, it also features the old family villa of the poet Giuseppe Giusti. The premises are divided into Paradise, Purgatory, and Hell, with temperatures ranging from 28°C to 34°C. Among the stalactites and stalagmites, the large rock vaults create rooms where visitors can stop for a natural steam bath. At the bottom of the cave lies Limbo, a lake of warm thermal waters, with a constant temperature of 36ºC.

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However, the World Spa Awards did not just concentrate on Italy. The complete list of winners also features the Guerlain Wellness Spa at Waldorf Astoria New York, Six Senses, and the Asaya Spa at Rosewood Mandarina in Mexico, among others.

L’article Italy officially has the best spas in the world est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

Named Prada Galleria, the revamped complex opened to the public on 23 September and brings together the brand’s women’s and men’s boutiques, exhibitions, private shopping areas, a pastry shop and spaces dedicated to contemporary art. The project was developed under the direction of Miuccia Prada, whose grandfather Mario Prada co-founded the company with his brother Martino in 1913.

“It is a way to show our DNA, our roots, our way of thinking and point of view,” Chief Executive Andrea Guerra ‌told Reuters

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At the heart of the redevelopment are Prada Donna and Prada Uomo, which were previously separate stores. Prada Donna, located on the site of the original Fratelli Prada shop, has nearly doubled its display space and now features women’s collections alongside expanded travel, home and beauty areas. The two boutiques are connected below the Galleria by a new underground tunnel known as the Passaggio Segreto, or “Secret Passage”.

The passage also serves as an exhibition space exploring episodes and eras of Prada’s history. According to Reuters, displays include silver-plated Prada handbags reworked by British artist Damien Hirst and a “Chandelier” dress worn by Carey Mulligan in the film The Great Gatsby.

Above Prada Uomo is Marchesi 1824, the historic Milanese pastry shop in which Prada acquired an 80% stake in 2014. Visitors can stop for pastries, chocolates, biscotti and espresso while overlooking the Galleria’s walkways and mosaics.

Another major addition is Pradasphere, Prada’s first permanent exhibition dedicated to the fashion house’s history. Building on temporary Pradasphere exhibitions previously staged in London, Hong Kong and Shanghai, the space presents archival objects and material tracing Prada’s development since 1913, including its connections with art, architecture, cinema, sport and culture. Visitors are required to register in advance to access the exhibition.

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The complex also includes Studio, a series of rooms designed for personalised shopping appointments and private events, as well as the invitation-only Appartamento. Designed to evoke an 18^th-century residence, the latter combines antique Italian furniture with contemporary photography and currently features works selected by German photographer Andreas Gursky.

On the upper levels, Osservatorio Fondazione Prada provides a space for experimentation focused on the connection between technology, contemporary culture and artistic expression.

The expansion comes as luxury brands increasingly invest in experiences designed to strengthen relationships with high-spending customers while attracting new shoppers. Guerra told Reuters that the company expects the revamped Milan flagship to generate around €100 million in annual revenue. Prada reported €5.7 billion in sales last year, while the cost of the Galleria redevelopment has not been disclosed. 

L’article Prada opens new eight-floor fashion, art and shopping destination in Milan est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

Since introducing the measure in 2024, Venice has yet to find an effective way to combat overtourism in the city. Protesters have accused day-trippers of putting pressure on the city, while others point to overnight visitors. (Overnight visitors pay a separate tourist tax of between €1 and €5 per person per night.)

The city introduced a €5 entry fee on 29 peak days in 2024. It was extended to 54 days in 2025, when the charge was doubled for last-minute visitors, and then to a record 60 days this year.

Yet despite these adjustments, the measures have not delivered the results authorities had hoped for, prompting them to consider further changes to tackle overtourism and its impact on the city and its inhabitants.

Michele Zuin, Venice’s budget and taxation councillor, told regional daily Il Gazzettino that the current charges were too democratic to make a noticeable difference.

“The current €5-10 charge is affordable for virtually everyone”, he said, warning that the fee risked losing its intended deterrent effect.

Zuin added that the proposed 2027 pricing still needed to be discussed and agreed with the national government. He said there had even been talks of hiking the price up to €50 per person per day, although authorities could ultimately settle on a €30 cap.

Venice’s new mayor, Simone Venturini, appears to share Zuin’s concerns. He said in July that the current €10 fee had failed to deter enough visitors on peak days.

But instead of imposing a blanket increase, Venturini favours a dynamic pricing system that would allow the fee to rise with demand on the busiest days.

“We spend 100 million euros a year just to maintain Venice physically” said Venturini, pointing out that neither the European Union nor the Italian government contributes to that cost. International critics do not contribute either, he added.

“It’s paid by the people of Venice, and in part through tourism taxes.”

Venturini has long advocated raising both the price of the entry fee and the number of days on which it applies.

He was the city’s councillor for tourism and social cohesion in 2024 when the scheme was first introduced and told Reuters at the time that nobody expected day-trippers to “miraculously disappear” but that the measure “will be more effective in the coming years when we increase the number of days and lift the price”.

Three editions later, the 2026 trial generated more than €5.2 million through the sale of nearly 680,000 tickets, according to provisional municipal data. But the figures on its effectiveness as a deterrent paint a more nuanced picture.

An average of 11,326 tickets were sold per charging day in 2026, a 32.3% decline compared with 2024.

The number of exceptionally busy days also fell. In 2024, four days saw at least 20,000 paid entries, compared with three in 2025 and only one in 2026, even as the number of charging days more than doubled, from 29 to 60.

The municipality itself has cautioned that the figures remain provisional and require further analysis. Weather, public holidays and broader tourism demand will need to be taken into account before determining how much of the decline can be attributed to the entry fee.

L’article Venice considers raising day-tripper fee to €30 as overtourism persists est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

The 76-room hotel is part of the Pavilions Hotels & Resorts group and is located on Corso Italia, the main shopping street in the heart of the famous Italian ski resort of Cortina d’Ampezzo.

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Studio Marincola Architects have completely revamped the building, designing it to give the UNESCO-listed Dolomites centre stage. They have used Dolomia stone and fir wood, and large windows that turn the mountain landscape into living wallpaper inside the hotel itself.

Each room and suite has a private balcony from which guests can admire the stupendous views: snow-covered mountains in winter and pink and orange hues at sunset in summer.

International travellers can reach Cortina from Venice Marco Polo and Treviso Canova airports, both of which are around a two-hour drive away.

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The town has long been a favourite among skiers and mountaineers. It hosted the Winter Olympics in 1956, and returned to the international spotlight earlier this year as one of the host destinations of the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Games.

The property offers a variety of room and suite categories, including family suites, a Wellness Suite with a terrace view and a Jacuzzi Suite with a balcony view.

Topping the hotel is the 140 sqm Enrosadira Penthouse, which has three bedrooms, a 50 sqm terrace, a sauna, a Turkish bath, living and dining areas, and a fully equipped kitchen. Guests have the option of hiring a private chef.

Zuma, the contemporary Japanese restaurant that originated in London, will reopen at the hotel for its second winter season. It will serve aperitifs and dinner, and there will be live music and DJ sets at the bar late into the night.

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Alongside Zuma, the hotel will feature Velo, its signature restaurant offering Italian cuisine for breakfast, lunch and dinner, as well as afternoon tea, homemade pastries and chocolates.

The wellness facilities will be operated by REVĪVŌ Spa, the group’s luxury wellness brand. Alongside treatment rooms, the two-storey spa will feature a panoramic swimming pool with an outdoor area, a sauna, a hammam, a gym, a hair salon, and beauty services.

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The property will also have a dedicated ski room where guests can arrange ski and alpine guides, book instructors, and rent equipment ranging from hiking and trekking gear in summer to skis and snowboards in winter. E-mountain bikes will also be available for guests wishing to explore the area on two wheels.

The Dolomites have attracted a lot of attention this summer, with hundreds of visitors flocking to the Friedrich August mountain refuge in Val di Fassa to sample its freshly made krapfen, an Alpine doughnut-like pastry which has gone viral on social media.

This sudden surge in popularity has led to long queues and renewed concerns about overtourism in the mountains. No such risk at The First Cortina, where even the opening offer starts at €663 per night for two. The ‘Cortina Premiere’ package includes breakfast, afternoon tea at Velo and a complimentary room upgrade, subject to availability.

L’article New five-star hotel opens in the Dolomites ahead of ski season est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

Known as Crevan, the 5,700-square-metre island is located around 7.5 kilometres northeast of Venice, north of Sant’Erasmo. The property is being marketed by Lionard Luxury Real Estate and includes gardens, two boat moorings and a 215-square-metre former military fort that has been converted into a private residence.

The island sits at the southeastern end of the Burano marshes, at the meeting point of the Crevan canal, with views towards Venice, Murano, Burano and Torcello. According to Lionard, its position provides access to the lagoon while maintaining a secluded setting away from the centre of Venice.

Its most distinctive feature is the historic fortress. Lionard says Crevan’s origins date to French rule in 1806, when the site was developed to strengthen the northern shoreline of the Venetian Lagoon. Between 1832 and 1842, a redoubt with defensive barracks was built, while the fort was later extended by the Austrians with a blockhouse.

The military complex eventually changed purpose. After coming under the control of the Kingdom of Italy in 1866 and a subsequent period of abandonment, the fort and its associated buildings were converted for residential use in the mid-20th century. The private owners who acquired the island transformed the fort into a small villa, while maintaining the island’s gardens and other features.

Today, the restored residence retains the original layout and comprises four rooms and three bathrooms across 215 square metres. The property also includes gardens with fruit and ornamental trees, an internal canal with a private mooring and a dockyard. Lionard’s listing also mentions a helipad on the island.

An 1898 lugger is also moored in the marina, described by the estate agency as a “piece of naval history” that remains in good condition.

“Crevan offers something increasingly rare in Venice,” Dimitri Corti, founder and CEO of Lionard Luxury Real Estate, told Euronews Travel, describing it as a “possibility of being extraordinarily close to the city while experiencing an almost complete sense of separation from it.”

“Just a few kilometres from Venice, the island is a private fragment of the lagoon, accessible only by water or helicopter, surrounded by nature and overlooking Burano and Torcello,” Corti said.

The island’s appeal lies in its “combination of landscape, privacy and history,” he added. “Owning Crevan does not simply mean owning a residence, but becoming the custodian of an entire island and of a small part of the Venetian Lagoon’s heritage.” 

The island is now listed for €5.5 million, with the historic fort forming the centrepiece of the property.

L’article Private Venice Lagoon island with Napoleonic fort hits market for €5.5 million est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

The decision follows a particularly serious incident in July, when a group of around 50 young people attacked police officers, reportedly using fireworks and leaving several officers injured.

Authorities have linked the recent problems around the Colosseum to what they describe as “predatory crimes and drug dealing”, prompting the deployment of additional security forces to protect both visitors and residents.

Under the new measures, police presence around the landmark will be reinforced around the clock, alongside military personnel already deployed at some of Rome’s busiest tourist sites. Officers will also have greater powers to intervene against suspected troublemakers and order individuals to leave the protected area.

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New metro station linked to rise in incidents

Rome Prefect Lamberto Giannini, who is responsible for security in the capital, has pointed to the opening of the new Colosseum metro station as one of the factors behind the increase in incidents.

The station opened in December 2025 as part of the €7 billion expansion of Rome’s underground network and provides direct access to the historic centre. It also includes a multi-level underground museum displaying archaeological finds uncovered during construction.

According to Giannini, however, the improved transport connection has also made it easier for groups of marginalised young people to reach the area and target tourists and residents.

In the ordinance establishing the red zone, Giannini said existing security measures had proved insufficient to deal with what authorities described as a “serious public emergency” presenting a “risk of serious damage” to sensitive areas of the city.

The designation gives security officers additional powers to arrest suspected offenders or order certain individuals to leave the area.

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Tourist hotspots under increased surveillance

The Colosseum is not the only part of Rome where security has been strengthened. Additional measures have also been introduced around Termini railway station, St Peter’s Basilica and the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore.

The latter has experienced an increase in visitors since Pope Francis was laid to rest there in April 2025.

Rome already deploys military personnel around major tourist attractions, with armed soldiers, barriers and checkpoints a familiar sight at some of the capital’s busiest landmarks. However, authorities acknowledge that the existing security presence has not been sufficient to deter all forms of crime.

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An American tourist visiting the Colosseum told CNN that she had witnessed a woman being pickpocketed despite the visible security presence. She also said her hotel had advised her not to visit the area at night.

The new measures come after substantial investment in Rome’s transport and public infrastructure and amid continued high visitor numbers in the Italian capital.

Authorities are expected to assess the effectiveness of the red zone in September, including whether the additional police presence and expanded intervention powers have helped reduce crime around the Colosseum.

L’article Rome declares Colosseum ‘red zone’ amid violent attacks and rising crime est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

The country has decided to tackle the problem created by the fact that, as our phones have become appendages of our bodies and our attention has shifted from the world around us to our screens, a momentary lack of attention on the road can now have deadly consequences.

While pedestrians have traditionally been considered the most vulnerable road users, with drivers bearing most of the responsibility in the event of an accident, the new rules recognise that this isn’t always fair. A driver cannot be blamed when a distracted pedestrian, unaware of the traffic around them, suddenly steps into the road, leaving the driver no time to react.

The proposed legislation follows a series of Italian court rulings in which pedestrians were found to be at fault due to their own inattention, whether they were looking at a phone, a tablet, a laptop or a camera.

The new code would not ban phone use outright. It would simply require pedestrians to be aware of their surroundings when entering or crossing a road.

Earphones would still be permitted, provided they do not drown out traffic noise and pedestrians remain aware of and able to hear what is happening around them.

This, of course, raises the question of whether, following that same logic, electric cars and bikes should have their volume adjusted too.

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The neighboring region of Veneto, however, is rolling out an experiment designed to educate phone-glued pedestrians. The city of Padova recently installed a brand-new anti-smartphone warning system at a particularly busy local crosswalk, alerting distracted walkers of oncoming traffic. It’s reportedly the first of its kind in the world. We wandered downtown Trieste to see what our city’s dwellers thought about the idea.

♬ original sound – intriestemagazine

The proposed rules, which seem logical and basic, require pedestrians to ensure they have made eye contact with the driver of an approaching vehicle and that the driver intends to stop, whether they are crossing at a designated crossing or not. Pedestrians should avoid dawdling once they have started crossing, so no selfies in the middle of the crossing.

Hands-free calls would, however, remain allowed, as would emergency calls.

The new rule would apply only where vehicles are involved. Pedestrians simply walking on pavements would not be affected.

Italy is not the first place to try to tackle this problem. In 2017, Honolulu became one of the first cities in the world to introduce fines for pedestrians using electronic devices while crossing the road. Lithuania followed a year later with similar legislation. In contrast, Japan took a softer approach in Yamato City, Kanagawa, where its 2020 ban on walking while using a phone was not paired with any fines.

The proposed changes in Italy are part of a much wider overhaul of the country’s highway code, which is currently being drawn up by the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport. Under the proposed legislation, motorists will face tougher rules.

Using a mobile phone while driving is already illegal in Italy, with first-time offenders facing fines of up to €1,000. Under the proposed code, repeat offenders could face fines of up to €2,588 and have their licence suspended for between one and three months.

Initially, restrictions had been proposed for drivers aged 85 and over, limiting them to driving within a radius of 100 km from their homes and banning them completely from motorways. However, these proposals have been dropped following an outcry, at the request of Transport Minister Matteo Salvini, who has called for more thorough medical checks for older drivers instead.

The new code is still being finalised. A definitive text is expected by mid-October.

L’article Travelling to Italy? Pedestrians distracted by phones could face €75 fines est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

The bridge can reportedly be seen particularly well from Ponte Sant’Angelo, which crosses the Tiber beside Castel Sant’Angelo. Tourist boats are still passing close to the exposed stones, but the changing water level means the sight could be temporary. The ruins have not been newly discovered, although their reappearance gives archaeologists another opportunity to examine them. At the same time, the conditions that revealed the bridge point to a serious water shortage affecting Rome and other parts of Italy.

The bridge is traditionally called Pons Neronis or Pons Neronianus, both meaning Nero’s Bridge. However, archaeologists believe it may have been built before Emperor Nero came to power in 54 AD. One theory dates it to the reign of his uncle, Emperor Caligula, around 39 AD. This would make the famous name slightly misleading, even though Nero remains the Roman ruler most closely associated with the surrounding area.

Antonella Bonini, an archaeologist at Rome’s cultural heritage superintendence, said scholars believe Caligula may have ordered the bridge’s construction. It appears to have created a route towards the villa of Agrippina the Elder, Caligula’s mother. The bridge also passed near the circus first associated with Caligula and later with Nero. These links may help explain why the structure eventually became known by Nero’s name.

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The crossing connected the ancient Campus Martius area on one side of the river with the area that later became Vatican City. The Circus of Nero once stood near the site of today’s St Peter’s Basilica. According to Christian tradition, Saint Peter was martyred in this area during Nero’s reign. The bridge would therefore have formed part of an important route between central Rome and a district that later became one of Christianity’s most significant locations.

By the end of the third or beginning of the fourth century, the bridge was probably no longer in use. It was no longer included in Roman registers listing the city’s main monuments from that period. Those records instead referred to Pons Aelius, the bridge now known as Ponte Sant’Angelo. Emperor Hadrian had built that crossing to connect his mausoleum, today’s Castel Sant’Angelo, with the centre of Rome.

A cool tidbit of information…the bridge just left of Bernini’s “Ponte Sant’Angelo” overlooks the ruins of the Emperor Nero’s bridge (yes, the guy who “fiddled while Rome burned”)!

You can see the ruins at the left bottom corner in this photo.

Nero’s bridge led to his circus,… pic.twitter.com/bLfdLBTEfw

— Bree A Dail (@breeadail) October 5, 2023

The bridge has become visible because the Tiber is going through an unusually severe period of low water. Its flow through Rome has dropped below 80 cubic metres per second. The historical average is around 150 cubic metres per second, according to Giovanni Giganti, Rome’s civil protection coordinator for water management. This means that less water is currently moving through the city than would normally be expected.

The shortage has been linked to scorching temperatures and long periods without rain during the summer. Italy received considerable rainfall during the previous winter, but this was followed by extended dry spells. Limited snowfall in the Apennine Mountains has also contributed to the problem. Snow normally stores water during winter before melting and feeding rivers and underground water supplies during the warmer months.

The low water has exposed more than ancient remains. E-bikes, scooters, refrigerators and even a car have reportedly appeared in or around parts of the river further upstream. The objects create a striking contrast with the Roman stones near the Vatican. While archaeologists can study a piece of the city’s past, the modern waste highlights the continuing pressure placed on the Tiber today.

L’article Drought exposes ancient bridge linked to Nero beneath Rome’s Tiber est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.