Arguably the most spectacular fountain in Rome , Trevi Fountain is without any doubts the most profitable one, as around three thousand Euro in dropped coins are collected by the city authorities.
According to the tradition tossing the coin over the shoulder while standing back to the fountain guarantees future return to Rome.
The fountain that attracts both tourists and ‘pearl catchers’ who are trying silently to get the coins out of the water,
has been placed at the end of the ancient Roman aqueduct ‘Aqua Virgo’ which brings water from the Salone Springs.
The sources of water, around 20 km from Rome, according to the tradition were shown to the thirsty Roman warrior by the young girl ‘virgo’ named ‘Trivia’, hence the name of the fountain.
The moment , when the girl shows the spring to the warrior is pictured on one of the side bass-reliefs on the fountain.Another possible explanation of the name stress the fact, that the fountain is located at the crossing of ‘tre vie’ (three roads).
The Aqua Virgo designed to supply water to the Campus Martius has been completed by Marcus Agrippa in 19 BC. Financed by the Pope, the renovation of the ancient aqueduct in 18th century brought good excuse to demonstrate the generosity of the Sponsor by the foundation of ‘mostra’ – the monumental fountain marking the end of water supply line.
The death of Pope Urban VIII halted first attempt to build the fountain according to design by Bernini.
In 1732, Pope Clement XII commissioned Nicola Salvi to create a large fountain at the Trevi Square, the central sculpture of Oceanus is the work of Pietro Bracci, and the construction was finished by Giuseppe Pannini in 1762.
The fountain played an important part in the 1954 movie ‘Three Coins in the Fountain’ about three American girls looking for romance in Rome,
and became worldwide recognised icon of Rome after 1960 film by Federico Fellini – ‘La Dolce Vita’ ( ‘ The Sweet Life ‘).
There is a reminder for those, who like Marcello Mastroianni want to follow Anita Ekberg’s cavorting in Trevi Fountain : the bath in the fountains in Rome is forbidden.
