Ancient place of cult dedicated to Esculapio the God of the medicine, whose snake, was carried to Rome from Epidauro in order to vanquish a terrible plague in 293 b.C..
The snake slid from the boat, swam upstream, and made the island its home. As this was clearly a sign of divine intent a temple was built in honour of Esculapio.
The island's shape suggests a ship and an obelisk was placed in the middle for a mast. To the Temple the first hospital of Rome was annexed, whose intense activity continues to our days. The Tiberine Island is connected to the mainland by two bridges.
The first one is Cestio Bridge raised in 46 b. C. by Lucio Sestio. It has bwas rebuilt in the 19th century using the original stone. The second is Fabricio bridge, also known as the Bridge of "four heads " on account of the Hermes with four heads set at the far end. Built by Lucio Fabricio in 62 b.C.
It has been preserved intact even if the periodic flood of the Tiber river caused many restorations; the smaller arch served as a passage for the water when the river was in flood. In the Middle Ages was known as "Bridge of the Jews" for its proximity to the Jewish Ghetto.
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