Spanish
Rome.— The city of Rome welcomed the year 2026 with the traditional plunge into the Tiber River, a custom celebrated every January 1st since 1946 and which brings together residents and tourists in the center of the Italian capital.
The main event took place at midday from the Cavour bridge, near the Castel Sant’Angelo, when Marco Fois, known as “Mr. Ok”, performed the symbolic jump from an approximate height of 20 meters. After diving into the cold waters of the river, he was assisted by a fire department boat.
The protagonist dedicated the jump to everyone present and expressed his wish that the new year would contribute to the end of conflicts in the world. The tradition was accompanied by a large presence of onlookers who followed the event from the riverbanks and the bridge. You can also read: https://efe.com/mundo/2026-01-01/tradicion-salto-rio-tiber-roma-ano-nuevo-2026/ Simultaneously, the Pope presided over the first Angelus of the year from the Apostolic Palace, where he called for peace, a message that coincided with the symbolic spirit of the act celebrated in the Tiber. Other cities in Italy also marked the beginning of the year with dives in rivers and seas. In Naples, Riccione and Ragusa, sea baths were held, while in Florence regional authorities participated in a plunge in the Arno River, near the historic Ponte Vecchio.
