Fontana di Trevi

Fontana di Trevi is one of the most sought-after tourist attractions of Rome and one of the most famous fountains in the world. The monumental fountain is located in Piazza di Trevi, not far from Palazzo del Quirinale and the homonymous square.

The monument was featured in many films, including Federico Fellini’s La Dolce Vita, Roman Holiday and Three Coins in the Fountain.

INTERESTING FACT: Over time, a custom related to the fountain appeared – almost every tourist throws a coin in the fountain, using the right hand over the left shoulder, hoping, according to tradition, to return to Rome. An estimated 3,000€ are thrown into the fountain every day, meaning that the fountain swallows over 1 million € each year.

SHORT HISTORY

The Trevi Fountain is closely linked to Aqua Virgo, an aqueduct which dates back to the times of emperor Augustus. Although damaged by the siege of the Goths in 537, the aqueduct remained in use throughout the Middle Ages.

The terminal point of the aqueduct was located on the eastern side of the Quirinal Hill, near a crossroad called Treio. At its center, a fountain was built in the 15th century.

In 1640, after a series of projects presented by various architects and never implemented, Pope Urban VIII asked the architect and sculptor Gian Lorenzo Bernini to transform the square and the fountain. Bernini enlarged the square by demolishing some huts, but the funds for the project soon ran out and the construction was stopped.

In the year 1730, Pope Clement XII organized a contest for the construction of a new fountain. Alessandro Galilei, a Florentine, won, and Nicola Salvi came second. The city was not satisfied with the winner being from Florence, and the commission was awarded to Salvi.

The work began in 1732 and the monument was completed long after Salvi’s death, in 1751. Pietro Bracci’s sculpture, Oceanus, was set in the central niche, and Giuseppe Pannini completed it in 1762.

The fountain was inaugurated on May 22, 1762, by Pope Clement XIII.

ARCHITECTURE

The fountain has a height of 26.3 meters and a width of 49.15 meters, being the largest Baroque fountain in Rome. The structure is made from Travertine stone, quarried near Rome, in Tivoli.

The central focus of the fountain is the statue of Oceanus, the god of water. To his left and right are statues of tridents and horses. Along the facade of the monument are base-reliefs, and the whole sculpture is animated by the cascading water, which flows into a large pool in the foreground.

HOW TO GET THERE

The closest Metro station is Barberini, located about 600 meters away, on the Metro Line A (Battistini – Anagnina). The closest bus stop is Corso, located about 250 meters away, on the bus Lines 62, 63, 83, 85, 119, 160 and 492.