See Rome from a completely different angle on the River Tiber Hop-On Hop-Off Cruise. There are only two stops, so this is not a hop-on hop-off cruise in the conventional sense. But your ticket is valid for 24 hours and you can take the 1 hour cruise as often as you like during that time.
The motor-boat cruise runs in a loop and stops at Tiberina Island and at Pier St Angelo. The journey between the two stops takes 1 hour. The route takes you from one end of Rome to the other, past attractions like the Vatican, and can be usefully integrated into your sightseeing itinerary.
You can board and leave the boat at either of the two stops. It is recommended that you arrive at the departure point about 30 minutes before the estimated boat arrival time. As you chug along the river, a multi-lingual audio guide will tell you about the sights you pass on the way. The guide is available in seven languages – Italian, English, French, German, Spanish, Japanese and Russian.
The River Tiber has been of crucial importance in the history of Rome. So important in fact that, in pre-Christian times, it was worshipped in the form of Tiberinus, the river god, depicted with streams of water flowing from his hair and beard.
Tiberina Island played a huge part in the development of the city of Rome and is surrounded by myth and legend. In ancient times it was the site of a river crossing, which later became the location for the first settlement.
The island is connected to the mainland by two bridges; the Cestio, built in 46 BC by Lucius Cestius, and the Ponte Fabricio. This is the oldest bridge in Rome and was built around 62 BC. From the island it is possible to see a third bridge, the Ponte Rotto, which collapsed in the late 16th century.
The second point of embarkation and departure for the cruise – Pier St Angelo – is close to Castel Sant'Angelo, a towering cylindrical building erected by Emperor Hadrian as a mausoleum for himself and his family. The structure was later used as a fortress and a refuge for the Popes in times of danger. It is now a museum. Castel Sant'Angelo is open from 0900h (9:00am) until 1900h (7:00pm) daily except Mondays.
You can choose to leave the cruise at whichever stop is most convenient.