Sights and attractions, experience Trevi Fountain in Rome

Address
Piazza di Trevi, Via del Tritone, Quirinale
Show map Close map

Transport
```
bus: Via del Tritone
```

Let us know if these details are incorrect

Lonely Planet review

Rome's largest and most famous fountain, Fontana di Trevi was completed by Nicola Salvi in 1762, and immortalised by Marcello Mastroianni and a frolicking Anita Ekberg in Fellini's La Dolce Vita .

This extravagant baroque work takes up most of the piazza, appears to meld into the palazzo , and depicts Neptune's chariot being led by Tritons with seahorses - one wild, one docile - representing the moods of the sea.

Trevi refers to the three roads (tre vie) that converged here.

Water for the fountain is supplied by one of Rome's earliest aqueducts. Work to clean the fountain and its water supply was completed in 1991, but pollution has already dulled the brilliant white of the clean marble.

The famous custom is to throw a coin into the fountain over your shoulder to ensure you return to Rome. A second coin will have you falling in love with an Italian, and the third marrying him or her. Needless to say, the terraces around the fountain are always packed with tourists throwing coins.

Rome overview Sights (198)

Member reviews

Write a review

Member reviews

Things to do

Member reviews (1)

Write a review

Showing 1-1 of 1 results

One historical theory says that the name Trevi is the convergence of the three roads (tre vie) leading to Trevi Fountain square. The original one, however, is that Trevi comes from the name of the virgin Vestal depicted on the right bas relief of the fountain, Santa Maria in Trivium (there is also the church dedicated to her behind the fountain to the left). Santa Maria was the Vestal met by Octavian Augustus' soldiers who revealed them the spot of the source where they had to dig for obtain water in exchange of her virginity. That was on the Collatina Way (19 km to the south of Rome) and from there was built the aqueduct of Aqua Virgo (Virgin Water) leading to this quarter of Rome. The aqueduct was built by Agrippa (Marco Vipsanio Agrippa) and on the left higher bas relief of the fountain is depicted the submission of the plans of the aqueduct to the Roman Emperor by Agrippa.