Between the late 17th and early 18th century the whole area became the centre of various settlements related to river traffic: in the inner part we can see the Casa del Dazio [Customs House] and the port of Ripa Grande (1), which was the main landing place on the Tiber, opposite the ancient Emporium. Just outside, Clement XI had the new “Papal Arsenal” (2) built in 1714 to maintain the pope’s commercial river craft. It remained in operation until the end of the 19th century when, with the construction of the embankments on the Tiber, all river-related activities were discontinued.
