The Trevi Fountain in Rome secrets, information and interesting facts 

The Trevi Fountain in Rome is one of the most beautiful fountains in the eternal city.

Flying to Rome, we had a prepared list of places and attractions that we wanted to see. This is necessary because essentially the entire Eternal City is one vast museum, and it’s impossible to see everything during a single, even the longest, visit.

On our list were primarily ancient wonders such as the Colosseum, the Roman Forum with the Palatine Hill, the famous Pantheon, and the Mouth of Truth. However, our plans also included other, slightly younger attractions, including St. Peter’s Square, the Spanish Steps, and the globally renowned Baroque masterpiece, the Trevi Fountain.

The Trevi Fountain is so beautiful that one could spend hours talking about the details of its decorations and the precise stone-carved elements that make up this extraordinary monument. However, I’ll start with the history that led the Trevi Fountain to be in this particular location.

The Trevi Fountain in Rome and its history

It all began with the construction of the Aqua Virgo aqueduct at the end of the ancient era. The benefactor behind the aqueduct bringing water to Rome was Marcus Agrippa, a talented architect, geographer, and strategist. He contributed to the construction of many remarkable urban installations in Rome, including the famous Pantheon, commemorating the victorious naval battle at Actium, and modern for that time baths, which were the first public baths in Rome. In addition, he designed urban aqueducts and a sewage system, parts of which are still in operation today.

However, our interest lies in the Trevi Fountain, which could have come into existence precisely because Marcus Agrippa, through clever aqueducts, brought water to the Eternal City from sources around several dozen kilometres away in Agro Lucullano.

The first fountain in the Trevi district (one of the 22 administrative units of Rome), located on today’s Via Poli and Piazza di Trevi, was built by Leone Battista, an Italian painter, poet, philosopher, and architect in 1435. The water for the fountain was supplied by the aforementioned Aqua Virgo aqueduct.

However, the original form of the fountain was a thorn in the side of the popes of that time, as it too literally harked back to ancient times and symbols conflicting with the doctrine of the church. Moreover, it primarily served a utilitarian role by providing drinking water to the residents. In 1640, Pope Urban VIII attempted to initiate discussions about the reconstruction of the fountain, but nothing came of it – the costs were too high, and there were not many willing to destroy the popular work.

It was only in 1732 that Pope Clement XII pushed through the plan to rebuild the fountain, and construction began several years later. The new fountain’s design was by Niccolo Salvi, and construction lasted for over 40 years. After the completion of the work, the new fountain’s form no longer resembled the previous one, as this time the fountain became part of the Palazzo Poli building.

Trevi Fountain in Rome, the form and symbolism of its decorations

The construction of the Trevi Fountain was completed in 1762, and its author did not live to see the project’s completion. The new fountain became part of a larger structure and served as its main facade, measuring 26 meters in height and 49 meters in width, making it the largest fountain in Rome.

The central figure in the main part of the structure is Neptune, the Roman god of the sea, rain, and all elements associated with water. On either side of him, two tritons appear, beings with bodies half human and half fish. They are identified with the Roman heroes Castor and Pollux, who, according to Roman myths, helped Roman troops defeat the Latin forces.

The figure of the god of seas and oceans, Neptune, stands on a war chariot in the form of a shell, pulled by two hippocampi, mythological creatures that are half horse and half fish. The first one, on the left side, is spirited and restless, with one of the tritons trying to calm and control it. The second Hippocamp is gentle and easily follows the commands of the triton taking care of it. Both animals symbolize the changeability of the sea and the unpredictability of natural forces.

The summit of the fountain is adorned with female figures symbolizing the four seasons. These statues date back to 1753 and are named from left to right:

• Abundance of Fruits.
• Fertility of Cultivated Fields.
• Autumn Harvest.
• Pleasures of Meadows.

Trevi Fountain in Rome Practical Information

The Trevi Fountain in Rome, like most of the major landmarks of the Eternal City, is located in the heart of the city centre. This makes it convenient for exploration, turning a stroll through Rome into a kind of open-air museum experience.

If you’re not a fan of long walks to the Trevi Fountain, you can easily reach it by using the metro, specifically Line A (orange). You should alight at the Barberini-Fontana di Trevi station. If you prefer taking a bus to the fountain, you can use lines 52, 23, 80, 160, and 492, and get off at the Largo Chigi or Tritone-Fontana di Trevi stops.

Keep in mind that you can also explore Rome at night. During nighttime, special versions of buses operate, such as N4, N5, N12, and N25. All of them run near the Trevi Fountain. I highly recommend exploring the Eternal City after dark; everything looks different, and there are fewer people around.

The address of the Trevi Fountain is: Piazza di Trevi, 00187 Roma RM, Italy.

The Trevi Fountain in Rome and other fountains interesting facts and information

• The water for the Trevi Fountain in Rome was supplied from the urban aqueduct Aqua Virgo, built in 19 BCE by Marcus Agrippa.
• The water that continues to feed the Trevi Fountain in Rome originates from the Aqua Virgo aqueduct, also known as the Virgin Water. The name derives from the legend of a young and beautiful virgin who led Roman soldiers returning from war to a source of crystal-clear water, providing strength to the weary warriors.
• The fountain was constructed using travertine, the same stone as the Colosseum, extracted from a quarry located about 30 kilometres from Rome.
• Tragically, during the quarrying of the stone for the Trevi Fountain, many workers lost their lives, including a stonemason crushed by a block of stone.
• Urban legend has it that if you toss a coin into the Trevi Fountain, you will undoubtedly return to Rome. Of course, the likelihood of your return is higher with a coin of larger denomination.
• The act of throwing coins into the fountain is called “il lancio della monetina” by Italians. So, if you hear these words, it means someone is encouraging you to toss a coin into the water basin.
• The ritual of tossing coins into the water originates from ancient Rome, when money was believed to appease and pacify the gods angered by misdeeds.
• At the end of each day, special services retrieve coins from the fountain. The collected amount can exceed three to four thousand euros in various currencies.
• The coins retrieved from the Trevi Fountain in Rome are donated to charitable institutions.
• Every day, over ten million litres of water flow from the Trevi Fountain.
• The water from the fountain is purified and reintroduced into the city’s water supply.
• It’s estimated that, on average, more than 1,000 people visit the fountain every hour. Annually, the number of tourists appearing at Trevi in Rome exceeds 10 million.
• The building that houses the Trevi Fountain is part of the Palazzo Poli museum. Inside, you can see various original engravings, drawings, and sketches of a wide range of Roman monuments.
• Beneath the Trevi Fountain, corridors, and underground spaces have been discovered, which are now open for exploration a few meters below street level.
• Bathing in the Trevi Fountain is strictly prohibited. The police enforce this rule rigorously and impose a fine of 500 euros.

Polish version