Trevi Fountain in Rome – Legends and Trivia

This Rome information blog is written for the guests of Hostel Little Italy Bed and Breakfast Rome and B&B Chaplin Hostel

La Dolce Vita

The Trevi Fountain became especially famous through its use in Fellini’s film La Dolce Vita when Anita Ekberg jumps into the fountain and implores Marcello Mastroianni to join her.

A fountain painted red

In 2007 the Trevi Fountain enjoyed a brief day in the spotlight when somebody calling himself an anarchist added a liquid to the water that turned it red.

Coin collectors

Legend has it that whoever throws a coin into the Trevi Fountain will one day return to Rome. Contrary to what many tourists in Rome think, it is not necessary to do this with your left hand, or over your left shoulder.

The Trevi Fountain is emptied of its coin collection on a daily basis. The money goes to charity. It can be very amusing to try to detect the ingenious ways the beggars and the gypsies use in order to fish the coins out of the fountain without being seen to do so.

The Trevi Fountain is one of the most famous attractions in Rome, still you don’t necessarily have to spend a lot of money to stay there. The Bed and Breakfast 3 Coins Trevi Fountain is far cheaper than a hotel and central as can be. Acquire information or reserve B&B 3 Coins Trevi Fountain.

Trevi Fountain in Rome – History

The Trevi Fountain is the biggest and most famous fountain of Rome. It is 26 meters tall and 22 meters wide.

The fountain was named Trevi because three streets (“tre vie”) used to lead to the Piazza di Trevi.

The Trevi Fountain is a mixture of Baroque and Classicism sculpture and can be found on the façade of the Palazzo Poli.

General Agrippa had the Trevi Fontein built in 19 b.C. when he wanted to restore the old aqueduct, the Aqua Virgo, in order to lead water to the Pantheon.

That early fountain was moved several times and more sculptures were added to it until Pope Urban VIII ordered Bernini to make a project.

Because of lack of finances Bernini’s project was not completed however until, in 1731, Pope Clement XII took the Trevi Fountain’s destiny into his own hands.

A year later work on the fountain was resumed. The project was by the architect Nicolo Salvi, who had won a competition. It was Salvi’s aim to tell the history of the aqueduct and the fountain itself through its design.

Until 1762 various other architects added parts to the fountain and it became a symbol of Papal Rome.

A medium-sized 4 star Rome hotel near the Trevi Fountain is the Hotel Barocco, a small and cozy hotel with a touch of luxury (and a roof terrace). Some of the rooms look out over the gorgeous Piazza Barberini. An excellent choice if you have business at the American Embassy and nobody is picking up the tab for you.

Trevi Fountain in Rome – description

The big central statue of the God Neptune was made by Pietro Bracci. Neptune is pulled by winged horses in a shell-shaped chariot.

On both sides of the Trevi Fountain arches can be spotted, containing statues personifying, respectively, Abundance and Health. The statues, made by Filippo della Valle, are seen above bas-reliefs.

The one on the left shows Agrippa’s Aqueduct’s history, whereas the other one depicts the legend of a virgin pointing out the location of the well to a wounded soldier. It used to be customary in the times of the ancient Romans to build a monument near spots where wells had been found.

The four Corinthian arches carry the coat of arms of Clement XIII. The sculptures on top of the arches the depict the four seasons.

Another representation of a virgin is depicted on one of the walls. According to another old Roman tradition this was meant to protect people passing by the fountain.

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