Overview
- Mayor Roberto Gualtieri announced the target at the Italian pavilion of Expo 2025 in Osaka, calling the project absolutely achievable.
- A municipal working group has been established, with talks underway with Environment Minister Gilberto Pichetto Fratin and Lazio regional president Francesco Rocca.
- Swimming in the Tiber is currently banned due to contamination, with only the traditional New Year’s plunge drawing a few swimmers.
- Key obstacles cited include industrial wastewater inflow from the Aniene and a persistent rat infestation along the riverbanks.
- The initiative takes cues from Paris, where supervised Seine bathing reopened in July and drew roughly 100,000 swimmers in two months.