Trevi Fountain Details | Unsplash: Casey LovegroveThrow a coin
Every day, approximately €3,000 are thrown into the Trevi Fountain. The coin you throw is supposed to guarantee your return to Rome. If you throw a second coin, you'll fall in love with an Italian. The third coin is for wedding bells. Over one million euros end up in the fountain annually. The proceeds are donated to Caritas.
Trevi Fountain Details | Unsplash: Casey LovegroveThe origin of the custom
The custom of throwing a coin into the fountain comes from the ancient Romans. They threw a coin into the water to appease the water gods and to guarantee a return home.Aqua Virgo
The water for the Trevi Fountain comes from the aqueduct named Aqua Virgo. The Aqua Virgo was built in ancient Rome and supplies the fountain with fresh water from the nearby sources. It is one of eleven aqueducts in Rome and the only aqueduct that has been continuously in operation to this day.Monumental dimensions
With a height of approximately 26m (85.3ft) and a width of approximately 49m (160.8ft), the Trevi Fountain is the largest Baroque fountain in Rome and one of the most famous fountains in the world. 220 liters are fed into the Trevi Fountain every second. The water in the Trevi Fountain is recycled and has a closed water cycle.Building Material
The fountain is made from Travertine, the same building material that the Colosseum is made of. Travertine is a mineral from calcium carbonate that is obtained from spring water. Many men were injured or even died while working with the huge stone.Artful baroque style
The Trevi Fountain is an outstanding example of Baroque and was designed by various artists, including Nicola Salvi, Pietro Bracci, and Giovanni Lorenzo Bernini.Symbolism
The figures at the Trevi Fountain represent various mythological figures and allegorical representations that embody the theme of water and the seas. The central figure is Oceanus, the god of the sea, who stands on a chariot made of shells and sea creatures. The Hippocamps (half horse, half fish), one calm and the other wild, represent the two moods of the seas.Restoration
The Trevi Fountain has been restored several times over the years to preserve its beauty. One of the most extensive restorations took place between 2014 and 2015, funded by the fashion house Fendi.Vandalism
The preservation of the historic monument requires great efforts and financial resources, and the fountain is repeatedly the victim of vandalism and environmental pollution. It is important that we preserve and protect this treasure so that future generations can experience the beauty and significance of the Trevi Fountain.Film History
The Trevi Fountain is not only a famous landmark but also a popular filming location. The iconic scene from Federico Fellini's film ’La Dolce Vita’, in which Anita Ekberg dances in the fountain, has helped to make the Trevi Fountain known worldwide. Other films that feature the Trevi Fountain include ‘Roman Holiday’, ‘Three Coins in the Fountain’, ‘Angels & Demons’, or ‘The Lizzie McGuire Movie’.Beneath the Trevi Fountain
You can visit the City of Water beneath the Trevi Fountain. An ancient Roman complex called Vicus Caprarius is under the area of the Trevi Fountain. Here many upper-class Romans used to live. Today the aqueduct flows here and you can visit it.