Port of Ripa Grande and Papal Arsenal

Porto di Ripa Grande was the river port of Rome, just downstream the former Pons Sublicius, where the wares, going up and down the Tiber towards the dock of Fiumicino, were handled.

The building of the muraglioni (massive walls) has erased its existence and function, just keeping a trace in the toponymy (the stretch of Lungotevere, that flanks San Michele a Ripa Grande, is called Porto di Ripa Grande, while Via del Porto is the narrow street that links the Tiber to Santa Cecilia in Trastevere and Santa Maria dell'Orto) and in the two ramps giving access to the quay of the river.

The port area never completely stopped its activity even in the last years of the Empire and during the Middle Ages, serving as a landing place both for pilgrims and wares.

The building, whose architect is unknown, was conceived as analogous to the arsenal of Civitavecchia, designed by Gian Lorenzo Bernini and completed by Domenico Fontana fifty years before; it was erected between 1714 and 1715, on a smaller scale than the former one, due to its more limited functions.

Arsenal activities were connected to a network of services, like customs offices and barracks, as well of handicraft specialized productions (ropes, carpentry etc.