The Tiber divides Rome in two. Countless bridges have been built over the millennia to connect the two parts of the city; some of these no longer exist, others will be built in the future. My photographic adventure on the banks of the Tiber began right from the bridges: from north to south, within the area delimited by the Grande Raccordo Anulare. During my photographic outings I realized that the heart of the city is physically separated from the river, with which it once had a relationship of love, but also of hate and distrust, due to the numerous and destructive floods that occurred in the past. At the end of the nineteenth century, Rome was somehow "distanced" from the Tiber with the construction of the walls, in order to defend it from floods. This created an "empty" and little-lived space: the Lungotevere, initially conceived as a panoramic walk, has become a fast-flowing road, while the lower banks, accessible only by steps, have often remained unused or degraded. The daily relationship with the river, which was an integral part of city life, has been largely lost: it was used for the transport of goods, fishing and bathing.
Today we are witnessing a slow process of rediscovery, which has the aim of enhancing the Tiber as a historical, cultural and environmental heritage, to return the river to citizens and tourists. Cycle paths and pedestrian routes along the banks, cultural events, summer markets and navigability projects have already been created or will be created in the coming years.
During these walks I encountered the history and beauty of Rome, but unfortunately also too many situations of landscape and human degradation, both in the more peripheral areas and in the more central areas of the city, confirming that the redevelopment work has only just begun and that there are still many things to do. Degradation is not the object of this work, which is why I preferred not to highlight it in the images.