Preparations underway to reopen Tiberis beach on banks of Tiber.

Rome's artificial beach on the banks of the river Tiber is expected to reopen "between the end of June and the beginning of August" according to Enrico Lupardini of the area's local council and member of the Movimento 5 Stelle (M5S).

Lupardini, who was interviewed by online Rome newspaper RomaToday, said that preparations have already begun to reopen the beach - known as Tiberis - located on reclaimed marshland between the S. Paolo and Marconi districts south of the city centre.

The works are being carried out by city gardeners and supervised prisoners from Rebibbia jail, according to Lupardini, who stated that the goal was to improve services.

When pressed by RomaToday regarding which services would be increased, Lupardini said there would be extra deckchairs and umbrellas to cater for the expected increase in visitors compared to last year.

Lupardini was unsure if there would be dining facilities but assured that there would be vending machines, portable toilets and showering facilities in addition to the chance to play beach volleyball on the 10,000-sqm site.

Tiberus is not the first man-made beach on the Tiber: in 2005 former mayor Walter Veltroni launched the Tevere Village beach under Castel S. Angelo, between Ponte S. Angelo and Ponte Umberto I.

Photo UrloWeb