Pons Fabricius Archaeological Site

Address: Pons Fabricius - connects Tiber Island (Isola Tiberina) to the left bank of the Tiber, Rome (near Piazza Mattei)

Hours: Open year-round (outdoor public access).

Admission: Free (public bridge).

Pons Fabricius is the oldest Roman bridge in Rome that still carries traffic in its original location. The stone bridge links the east bank of the Tiber with Tiber Island and dates from the late Republican period.

A short, narrow stone bridge made of dressed blocks and featuring two arches provides a direct pedestrian route between the island and the rione on the eastern bank. The bridge remains in daily use and is notable for its survival in substantially original form.

Constructed in 62 BC and commissioned by Lucius Fabricius, the bridge has been repaired periodically but retains the inscription that records its original building. Over the centuries it has served the same crossing function and survived changes to the island and surrounding riverfront.

The bridge spans the Tiber at the point where Tiber Island meets the eastern bank, linking the island with the historic Sant’Angelo/Ghetto quarter in central Rome.

• Inscription: An original Latin dedication stone on the bridge records its construction date and patron, making it uniquely well-documented among ancient Roman bridges in the city.

Pons Fabricius stands at the north end of Tiber Island in central Rome, linking the island to the mainland near the Jewish Ghetto. It is within easy walking distance of Largo di Torre Argentina and the historic centre (about 5-15 minutes on foot depending on your starting point). Public buses and trams run along the Lungotevere and Corso Vittorio Emanuele nearby; from Roma Termini it is a longer walk (around 25-30 minutes) or a short taxi/bus ride.

• Visit at first light or later in the evening for photos with the Tiber and Tiber Island in soft light and far fewer pedestrians than midday.
• Approach the bridge on foot from Tiber Island to appreciate the bridge's full span and Roman inscriptions and then cross to get classic views of the island and riverside neighborhoods.
• Combine the crossing with a short walk through the adjacent Jewish Ghetto or along the Lungotevere to see the bridge in its urban context-many visitors only pause briefly for a photo.