Located on the southern bend of the Tiber, Tiber Island is the only river island in the part of the Tiber which runs through Rome. The island is boat-shaped, approximately 890 feet long and 220 feet wide, and has been connected with bridges to both sides of the river since antiquity. The Fatebenefratelli Hospital, founded in the 16th century, and the church of San Bartolomeo all’Isola, dating from the 10th century, are located on the island.
Prior to the above, Tiber Island was once the location of an ancient temple to Aesculapius – the Greek god of medicine and healing. How? Accounts say that in 293 BC, there was a great plague in Rome. Upon consulting the Sibyl, the Roman Senate was instructed to build a temple to Aesculapius, the Greek god of healing, and sent a delegation to Epidauros to obtain a statue of the deity. The delegation went on board a ship to sail out and obtain a statue. Following their belief system, they obtained a snake from a temple and put it on board their ship. It immediately curled itself around the ship’s mast and this was deemed as a good sign by them. Upon their return up the Tiber river, the snake slithered off the ship and swam onto the island. They believed that this was a sign from Aesculapius that meant that he wanted his temple to be built on that island. (The more realistic story is that it was separated from the rest of the city, which could help protect whoever was there from plague and illnesses).
In 998, Emperor Otto III had a basilica, that of San Bartolomeo all’Isola, built over the Aesculapius temple’s ruins on the eastern side.
The island is still considered a place of healing because a hospital, founded in 1584, was built on the island (on the other side the temple once stood on) and is still operating. It is staffed by the Hospitaller Order of St. John of God or “Fatebenefratelli”.
Fun fact: During WWII, when the Nazis occupied Rome in September 1943 and started rounding up the Jews, Dr. Borromeo, head of the hospital, invented an imaginary “deadly and highly contagious illness” he dubbed, “Il Morbo di K” to keep the Nazis away and protect those Jews hiding inside the wards, just a stone’s throw from the Ghetto.
@blackbeardsadventures and I agree that it’s worth the visit!
For more information on Rome and/or to build your own itinerary: https://www.inspiruption.com/the-travel-lounge/exploring-rome-italy