Architecture
Facts about Trevi Fountain
The last section of the Acqua Vergine aqueduct
Dating from the Baroque period, this fountain is one of the world's most famous. It was commissioned by the Pope, who wanted to modernize the previous medieval fountain of dubious beauty. More than 250 years old, the fountain attracts crowds of tourists who throw money into it during their stay so that, as legend has it, they can return to Rome. In 2016 alone, a whopping €1.4 million was collected at the fountain's bottom.
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The Trevi Fountain is located in Rome in the Rione Trevi. Rione are the administrative units into which central Rome's area is divided.
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On the site of the present fountain, there was an older one, dating back to 1435. Because of its uninteresting appearance, Pope Urban VIII commissioned the Italian master Gian Lorenzo Bernini to design possible reconstruction variants. Unfortunately, the project was not realized because the Pope died in 1644.
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Another initiator of the fountain reconstruction was Pope Clement XIII, who in 1732 announced a competition for a new fountain design.
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Finally, it was decided to realize the Italian architect Niccolo Salvi's design.
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Salvi did not live to see the fountain's completion. He died in 1751. The work was completed by four other sculptors: Pietro Bracci, Filippo della Valle, Giovanni Grossi and Andrea Bergondi. The work was supervised by the architect Giuseppe Pannini.
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The construction of the new fountain lasted from 1735 to 1776.
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The official opening of the Trevi Fountain took place on May 22, 1762, by Pope Clement XIII.
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Most of the fountain was made of travertine, obtained from a quarry 35 kilometers south of Rome.
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The fountain measures 26.3 by 49.15 meters.
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It is supplied with water by an aqueduct built in 19 BC.
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The fountain's central figure is a titan from Greek mythology - Okeanos. Okeanos is accompanied by two Tritons, one of who is calm and the other in a rage. Okeanos is trying to tame the disobedient Triton.
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The tritons in the fountain are said to symbolize the characteristics of the sea, which can be either calm or rough.
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The Trevi Fountain was restored in 1988, 1998, and 2014 - 2015, with work done to clean the stone of sediment caused by smog.
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The fashion house Fendi sponsored the 2014 - 1015 restoration work. It took 20 months to restore the fountain to its former glory. It was the most extensive of any restoration work done to date. The cost of the project was 2.2 million euros. More than 100 LED lights were installed around the fountain to illuminate the object at night during work.
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According to legend, throwing the appropriate number of coins into the fountain is said to ensure the fulfillment of a wish for the thrower. The tossing of one coin is supposed to ensure a return to Rome, two coins - romance, and three coins - marriage. For the request to be fulfilled, the money should be thrown with the right hand over the left shoulder.
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About 3,000 euros are thrown into the fountain by tourists every day. The removal of coins from the fountain is prohibited by law.
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Money is regularly fished out of the fountain by municipal services. It is used for charitable purposes and preserving the city's monuments.
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Bathing in the Trevi Fountain is forbidden and punishable by law.
