Trevi Fountain

Few places in Rome evoke as much emotion as the Trevi Fountain. Every day, crowds of tourists flock here to admire its monumental beauty – and, above all, to observe the well-known tradition of tossing a coin over the left shoulder with the right hand. One coin is supposed to ensure a return to Rome, two bring love and three even a wedding. The thousands of coins that end up at the bottom of the fountain every day prove that people really believe this – and what’s more, all the money goes to charity.

But behind this romantic ritual there is also a story of Roman pride. In 1730, Pope Clement XII launched a competition to design a new fountain to finish the ancient Aqua Virgo aqueduct with dignity. The original winner was Alessandro Galilei, but because he was from Florence, the Romans protested. They wanted an architect of their own – and so the commission was eventually awarded to Niccolò Salvi, whose Baroque design, full of movement, drama and symbolism, has become iconic.

The fountain is dominated by the god of the seas, Oceanus, who emerges from the central niche on a chariot pulled by two horses – one wild, the other calm. Allegories of abundance and health stand along its sides, and water gushes from every corner. The whole scene seems to grow directly out of the palace behind it.

Construction took over 30 years and Salvi unfortunately did not see its completion. Nevertheless, thanks to him, the Trevi Fountain is one of the most impressive monuments not only in Rome, but in Europe.

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