Trevi Fountain in Rome

Nestled in the historic heart of Rome, Trevi Fountain is an absolute must-visit for anyone exploring the Italian capital!

With its extravagant Baroque architecture and monumental dimensions, the fountain rightfully earns its spot at the top of the list of Rome’s most iconic landmarks!

A Brief History of Trevi Fountain

The Origins of Trevi Fountain

Though the Trevi Fountain was built in the 18^th century, its roots go back much further. The fountain marks the end of the Aqua Virgo aqueduct, constructed in 19 BC by order of the Roman General Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa.

Stretching 20 kilometers / 12.5 miles, the aqueduct supplied water to the Campus Martius, a vast plain in what is now the northwest part of Rome’s historic center, as well as to the Baths of Agrippa.

Before the grand Trevi Fountain was built in the 18^th century, a much smaller fountain marked the aqueduct’s end.

The Construction of Trevi Fountain

In 1730, Pope Clement XII decided to continue the modernization efforts of his predecessors and launched a grand contest to select an architect to create the new Trevi Fountain. The Pope wanted to replace the modest fountain marking the end of the Aqua Virgo with a grand and imposing structure.

Roman sculptor and architect Nicola Salvi won the contest, allegedly impressing the Pope with both his design and its low cost —talk about a practical mind!

Construction began in 1732, but unfortunately, neither Pope Clement XII nor Nicola Salvi lived to see its completion. Salvi died in 1751, and architect Giovanni Paolo Panini finished the work.

The Trevi Fountain was inaugurated in 1761, taking 29 years to complete!

La Dolce Vita

Today, the Trevi Fountain is an emblem of the “Eternal City,” also known for its cinematic fame.

The fountain appears in numerous films, most notably in Federico Fellini’s classic La Dolce Vita. The iconic scene of Anita Ekberg and Marcello Mastroianni’s midnight dip made the fountain famous worldwide.

But don’t try to recreate the scene yourself—you could face a hefty fine!

The Name “Trevi Fountain”

The fountain gets its name from the square where it’s located, Piazza di Trevi, which was once at the junction of three roads: tre vie in Italian.

A Closer Look at Trevi Fountain

Backed by the Palazzo Poli, the Trevi Fountain is a monumental structure (20 meters / 65.5 ft wide and 26 / 85 ft meters high) in the form of a triumphal arch made of Carrara marble and Travertine from Tivoli, supported by four large Corinthian columns.

The fountain is an allegory of water: Nicola Salvi is said to have been inspired by Bernini’s 17^th century Fountain of the Four Rivers on Piazza Navona (another must-see!).

At the center of the fountain stands Neptune, the god of the sea, on a shell-shaped chariot pulled by two horses guided by tritons (sea gods). One horse is agitated, while the other is calm, representing the two facets of the sea.

Flanking Neptune, two niches house allegories of Health and Abundance, symbolizing the virtues of pure water.

Above, two bas-reliefs depict General Agrippa and the young girl who, according to legend, discovered the water source feeding the aqueduct.

The upper part of the fountain is adorned with small allegorical statues and Pope Clement XII’s coat of arms.

Tossing Coins into Trevi Fountain

Legend has it that throwing a coin (or more) into the Trevi Fountain brings good luck. But there’s an art to it: you must toss the coin with your back to the fountain, using your right hand over your left shoulder.

The number of coins you throw also has significance:

• One coin: You’ll return to Rome.
• Two coins: You’ll fall in love with an Italian.
• Three coins: You’ll marry the person you met.

Since 2007, the coins thrown into the fountain are collected weekly by city employees and donated to charitable organizations.

Quiz: How much money do you think Rome collects each year from the fountain?

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€1 million! Not bad, right?

Practical Information

Located near the Pantheon and Piazza di Spagna, Trevi Fountain is freely accessible 24/7. However, it’s extremely popular and always crowded. For a (relatively) peaceful visit, go early in the morning or in the evening after dinner.

The closest transportation options are:

• Metro: Barberini station
• Bus: Tritone – Fontana di Trevi stop
• Hop-on, hop-off tourist bus (more info here)

Skip the lines: book your tickets and tours in Rome!