Porto di Ripetta, Rome, Italy- 1704

Image: GoogleMaps

Porto di Ripetta was a port in Rome. It was designed and built in 1704 by the Italian, Baroque architect, Alessandro Specchi. Located on the banks of the River Tiber, it was in front of the church of San Girolamo degli Schiavoni. Its low walls with steps descended in sweeping, scenographic curves from the street to the river. The port no longer exists but is known today from documents including engraved views, drawings and early photographs.

On the left bank of the Tiber, facing southali  this was the place to stop and rest for those coming downriver. On the other bank of the river, Porto di Ripa Grande served a similar purpose for those coming in from the ocean side of the city.

Engraving by  Piranesi

During the second half of the 19th century, the river banks and roads along the Tiber were radically reconstructed to improve the city's flooding defenses and its transportation connections. The new road on the left bank is called, Lungotevere.

In the area of the Porto di Ripetta, an iron bridge was constructed between 1877-1879 across the Tiber and adjacent to the port. This in turn led to the construction of another more substantial bridge, the Ponte Cavour which was opened in 1901. This lead to the demolition of the Porto di Ripetta. Photographs from the late nineteenth century record the port, the iron bridge and the new Ponte Cavour. 

Porto di Pipetta pictured in 2010