Rome's Tiber River will become swimmable like Paris's within 5 years.

A dream that seemed impossible could soon become reality: bathing in the Tiber , just like people do in Paris with the Seine. Rome 's mayor, Roberto Gualtieri , has announced an ambitious project that aims to make the capital's river swimmable within five years .

An idea that combines innovation, sustainability, and valorization of the Eternal City's natural and cultural heritage . While Paris has invested more than a billion euros in the restoration of the Seine, Rome is counting on lower costs, thanks to less critical starting conditions and targeted interventions.

The project to make the Tiber suitable for swimming

Gualtieri 's announcement came during the international event " The Eternal City Welcomes the Future. Attractiveness, Culture, Beauty, and Innovation " at the Italian Pavilion at the Osaka Expo . The mayor of Rome explained that a working group has already been created that will soon become interinstitutional, involving the Government and the Lazio Region. The goal is to coordinate necessary investments and interventions.

According to Gualtieri, some areas of the Tiber are already suitable for swimming on certain days, but targeted work is needed to ensure full use of the river downstream as well.

In particular, the Metropolitan City police have started a screening of discharges into the Aniene , many of which are located outside the territory of Rome Capital, considered among the main causes of pollution of the river.

The project draws inspiration from the Parisian experience : after over a century of bans, French citizens were able to dive in the Seine again in 2024, thanks to a massive cleanup plan. In Rome, however, the costs are expected to be lower, because the Tiber's pollution levels aren't as severe.

The charm of the Tiber in the 1940s-1970s

Talking about the Tiber's bathing area inevitably means going back in time. Between the 1940s and 1970s, one of the symbols of this era was the " Galleggiante d'er Ciriola ," a large boat moored beneath Castel Sant'Angelo that became a meeting point for entire generations of young people .

Its owner, Luigi Rodolfo Benedetti , better known as "er Ciriola"—a nickname derived from the word eel for his agility in the water—was not just a river sailor. He was also a true folk hero , capable of saving 160 lives from the waters of the Tiber, receiving as many medals for valor.

The float became famous despite being initially considered a popular entertainment venue, frequented by those who could not afford the luxurious beach resorts outside the city.

Its consecration came in 1956, when Dino Risi chose that very boat as the location for several scenes in the cult film " Poveri ma belli." From that moment, the myth of Ciriola and its floating vessel entered the Roman collective imagination.

Unfortunately, a fire in 1970 put an end to the barge's history, but its memory remains linked to the golden age of the Tiber as a space for meeting, entertainment, and community.

The project to make the river suitable for swimming again therefore represents not only a step toward modernity and sustainability, but also a way to recover an important part of the city's historical and cultural memory . Rome could thus rediscover the pleasure of experiencing the Tiber not only as an evocative backdrop, but as a living, breathing place, just as it was in the Ciriola era.