Amazing Things You Didn't Know About Trevi Fountain, Rome

The Fontana di Trevi is undoubtedly a stunning work of art, renowned in the whole world. The intricate carved Travertine stone, sculpted mythical statues, the real-looking horses, and the turquoise waters are a sight to behold!

Amazing Facts About Trevi Fountain

Roman technicians located a source of pure water, 13 km from the city, in 19 BC. The Aqua Virgo constructed still provides water to the fountain and has served Rome for over 400 years.

Gian Lorenzo Bernini was the original sculptor, but the project was abandoned after the death of Pope Urban VIII. Nicola Salvi was then appointed to complete it with previous designs of Bernini. After Salvi died, Giuseppe Pannini completed the task.

Nicola Salvi was selected from a contest declared to find designers. He was a poet and stood second in the contest. The first candidate wasn’t a true Roman which caused a public outcry and the project went to Salvi.

The Trevi fountain was finally completed by Giuseppe Pannini, in the year 1762.

It is the largest Baroque fountain in the whole city, as it stands tall at over 86 feet and has a width of about 160 feet. It spills out almost 2,824,800 cubic feet of water each day!

The backdrop of the fountain is the Palazzo Poli, a Roman palace. The central area of the palace was demolished in 1730, to build the fountain.

The fountain was closed from June 2014 – November 2015 for a 2.2 million Euro restoration, sponsored by the fashion company Fendi. It reopened with more than 100 LED lights for a greater night view.

'Trevi' is Italian for ‘three roads’. Trevi fountain is located at intersection of three streets – De Crocicchis, Poli and Delle Muratte; in the center of Rome. The three streets are collectively called 'triviumor tre vie'.

The legend goes that if you turn back and flip one coin in the fountain; you will revisit the city. Flipping two coins means you'll return to the city and find love here. If you toss three coins, you'll return, find your love and will also get married to your love!

There’s a specific way of throwing coins in the fountain. You close your eyes, turn your back to the fountain, and throw the coin from your right hand, going over your left shoulder. Almost one and a half million euros are found here annually!

All these coins are collected by the Catholic Church and donated to a charity named Caritas. The fund is used to buy groceries for Rome’s needy.

It is illegal to fish out coins from the fountain. Many people were caught stealing the coins, but one man nicknamed d’Artagnan was found stealing for 34 years and was finally caught in 2002!

The fountain has been shown in movies like La Dolce Vita, The Lizzie McGuire Movie, Roman Holiday, Three Coins in the Fountain. The fountain was turned off and draped in black to honor death of Marcello Mastroianni (actor of La Dolce Vita) in 1996.

The center piece of Trevi fountain is confused with the Neptune god. It is actually Greek Sea God Oceanus, accompanied by sea horses, half men, and half mermen.

The triton handling a restless horse depicts rough seas and the other with a calm horse depicts the tranquility of the ocean. The fountain also has Goddess of abundance and health.