The Trevi Fountain - Fontana di Trevi

In the heart of the city, near the Pantheon and the Spanish Steps, the Trevi Fountain is Rome's best-known fountain and an essential stop!

Getting there: Barberini metro station or one of the many bus lines nearby (52, 62, 63, 71, 80, 83, 116, etc.)

Address: Piazza di Trevi

Ticket prices: free.

Built at the request of Pope Clement XII, it is the work of Nicola Salvi, who completed it in 1762. The fountain replaced the outlet of the Roman aqueduct that still brings water from a spring, the Acqua Vergine. Legend has it that a young girl named Trevi revealed the location of the spring to Roman soldiers in order to save her virginity. You will find this story told on the right-hand bas-relief of the fountain.

This monumental fountain, set against a palace, takes the form of a temple or a triumphal arch.

The fountain is an allegory of the Ocean with, at the centre, Neptune standing on a chariot shaped like a shell, drawn by two sea horses representing rough water (left) and calm water (right). They are guided by two tritons.

The statues on either side of Neptune represent Abundance and Salubrity.
The statues above, surrounding the main inscription, represent the four seasons.

It is traditional to throw 2 coins into the fountain, one to make a wish, the other to be sure of returning to Rome! For a perfect throw, hold the coins in your right hand, turn your back to the fountain and toss the coins over your left shoulder!
The coins are collected every morning by the city services and amount to more than one million euros a year! The sums gathered in this way are currently redistributed to charitable associations, despite the city's regular attempts to get its hands on this windfall...