Rome tourists raft on Tiber to escape the heat

Tourists in Rome are taking inflatable raft tours on the Tiber River as a cooler alternative to walking around the Italian capital in the heat.

The tours begin near Piazza del Popolo and pass landmarks including Castel Sant'Angelo, with the dome of St Peter's Basilica visible from the water. After about two hours, they end at an ancient Roman port in Trastevere.

Giuseppe Battaglia, a guide for a Roma Rafting tour, said the 40-euro trip gives visitors a different view of the city and follows a route similar to one used in Roman times.

As the rafts reach Tiber Island, the current creates light rapids that splash passengers as they pass beneath old stone bridges.

Manuel Frank, a 19-year-old visitor from Germany, said the river tour offered a special view compared with seeing Rome on foot. Belgian tourist Sabine Maisano said sitting in a boat after a day of walking helped her family relax, stay cool and see the city at a slower pace.