Drought exposes Roman ruins in Tiber River

(25 Aug 2022)
RESTRICTION SUMMARY:
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Rome - 25 August 2022
1. View of Tiber River with ferryboat passing
HEADLINE: Drought exposes Roman ruins in Tiber River
2. Close of young seagull perched on Nero's bridge ruins
ANNOTATION: A seagull sits on a pile of grimy rocks near the Vittorio Emanuele II bridge in Rome enjoying a new sunning spot on the Tiber River.
3. Ruins in Tiber river under Vittorio Emanuele II bridge, Sant'Angelo Castle
4. Ruins of Nero's bridge
ANNOTATION: That pile of rocks is the remains of a Roman pier that once held up what is known as "Nero's Bridge" after the notorious Roman emperor.
5. SOUNDBITE (English) Anthony Majanlahti, Historian: ++ENDS ON CUTAWAYS++
"This bridge, the Pons Neronianus, or the bridge of Nero was built probably by either the Emperor Nero, who it's called after, or the Emperor Caligula. And it seems that's been built principally for the Emperor to be able to get across to his gardens, to the family pleasure garden."
6. Various shots of ruins, Tiber River
7. Ruins of Nero's bridge
ANNOTATION: Italy is facing its worst drought in 70 years.
8. Garbage floating on green layer on Tiber
9. Rotting bicycle partially submerged in the river
ANNOTATION: Lack of rainfall in Rome has also brought to the surface of the Tiber River garbage, such as plastic bottles and bicycles.
10. People walking on Sant'Angelo bridge
11. Close of seagull in river next to ruins
ANNOTATION: For the moment, tourists continue to flock to Rome's well-known monuments leaving this little piece of history to the seagulls.
12. Top shot of Tiber with boat
STORYLINE:
As Italy faces its worst drought in seventy years, the lack of rainfall in Rome has brought ancient ruins to the surface of the Tiber River.
These moss-covered rocks near the Vittorio Emanuele bridge are the remains of a Roman pier that once held up what is known as "Nero's Bridge", named after the famous Roman emperor.
The ruins emerged this summer as the water level of the Tiber River steadily dropped.  
According to historian Anthony Majanlahti, the bridge was likely built in the first century AD for Emperor Nero to access his pleasure gardens across the river.
For the moment, the usual Roman car traffic rushes past above and tourists flock to Rome's well-known monuments leaving this piece of ancient history to the seagulls.
The drought has also caused more algae on the Tiber, and low water levels also reveal rubbish that has been dumped in the river.
The Italian government has declared a state of emergency in several regions because of the prolonged drought and accompanying heat wave.
===========================================================
Clients are reminded:
(i) to check the terms of their licence agreements for use of content outside news programming and that further advice and assistance can be obtained from the AP Archive on: Tel +44 (0) 20 7482 7482 Email: [email protected]
(ii) they should check with the applicable collecting society in their Territory regarding the clearance of any sound recording or performance included within the AP Television News service
(iii) they have editorial responsibility for the use of all and any content included within the AP Television News service and for libel, privacy, compliance and third party rights applicable to their Territory.

Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork
Twitter:   / ap_archive  
Facebook:   / aparchives   ​​
Instagram:   / apnews  


You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...