Trevi Fountain – Rome’s most Famous Fountain
A visitor can’t come to Rome without visiting this masterpiece created in the middle of Rome: the Fontana di Trevi.
It’s by far the largest standing and impressive Baroque fountains of Rome. It’s huge: 25.9 meters (85 feet) high and 19.8 meters (65 feet) wide. Rome has an impressive numbero of fountains spread all over the city, more than 3,000, but there is no place on earth like Trevi Fountain.
The place where the fountain is located is at the juncture of three roads. It marks the point of arrival of one of the most ancient aqueducts that supplied water to Rome, the Acqua Vergine acqueduct, stretched 22 km (14 miles) away from the city. The Aqua Virgo acqueduct also fed water into the Baths of Agrippa and has served the city of Rome for more 400 years.
Numerous alterations were made as the centuries passed. In 1629 Pope Urban VIII, thought the earlier fountain was losing its beauty and asked Bernini to sketch and give the fountain a new definite, monumental form.
When the Pope died the project was shelved! The project was adopted and taken over by Nicola Salvi! Work finally began in 1732, and the fountain was completed in 1762. Though Bernini’s project was rejected, there are many Bernini touches in the fountain as it was built
A traditional legend says that when a visitor throws a coin into the fountain, he will be back to Rome again. The tossing of the “three coins” was supposed to be done by three different individuals, but nowadays the current version of the legend says that two coins will lead to a new romance and three will ensure that you will either divorce or get married!
How your love could be governed by the tossing of three coins into a fountain is still a mystery many people believes in. This act has to be done with the right hand over one’s left shoulder and is said to bring good luck.
Each day approximately three thousands euros are believed to be thrown into the fountain and collected at night. The money has been used to help poor people and homeless in Rome. Nevertheless regular attempts to steal coins from the fountain are witnessed very frequently, including some using a magnetized pole. In 1998 the fountain has been refurbished and provided with re-circulating pumps.
Now what the hell is the building behind Trevi Fountain? This palace it’s called Palazzo dei Duchi di Polis and you can admin in the center a modeled replica of the triumphal arch.
On the outside Oceanus, water comes out from her urn and Salubrity holds a cup from which a snake drinks out from. On the top is a copy of the Roman origin of the aqueducts. The tritons and horses provide symmetrical balance, with the maximum contrast with their facial expressions and poses.
“Taming of the waters” is the theme of the gigantic scheme that jumps forward, mixing water and rockwork, and filling the small square.
Trevi area is definetely one of the most beautiful areas of Rome.