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Trevi Fountain, Rome

Landmark

Trevi Fountain

Rome · Lazio

QUICK INFORMATION

CATEGORY
Landmark
COUNTRY
Italy
REGION
Rome · Lazio
DURATION
3 days

ABOUT THIS ATTRACTION

The Trevi Fountain is the largest and most theatrical of Rome’s public fountains, a Baroque façade of marble and travertine built against the rear wall of a small palace where three streets meet. At its centre Oceanus stands in a shell chariot drawn by sea-horses and guided by tritons, above a pool that fills the whole square. The fountain marks the terminus of the Acqua Vergine, an aqueduct restored in the Renaissance, and the tradition of tossing a coin over the shoulder into the water is said to ensure a return to Rome.

HISTORY & BACKGROUND

The story behind it

Work on the fountain began in 1732 to a design by Nicola Salvi, who spent the last thirty years of his life on it, and it was completed by Giuseppe Pannini in 1762 after Salvi’s death. It replaced an earlier, simpler fountain by Leon Battista Alberti. The Acqua Vergine it displays is a continuation of the Acqua Virgo, the aqueduct Agrippa built in 19 BC to feed his baths near the Pantheon. The coin-tossing custom was popularised by the 1954 film Three Coins in the Fountain; the coins are now collected daily and donated to Caritas.

WHAT TO SEE

What to see here

01

Oceanus and the sea-horses — the central figure in his shell chariot, flanked by Abundance and Salubrity, with the horses led by tritons.

02

The bas-reliefs above the side niches — showing the Roman legend of the virgin who showed the soldiers the source of the aqueduct.

03

The pool and the coins — the tradition of a coin thrown with the right hand over the left shoulder; the money supports charity work in Rome.

WHY IT MATTERS

Why it matters

The Trevi is the fountain most visitors actually seek out in Rome, and it earns that attention by being the most complete expression of the Roman Baroque fountain — architecture, sculpture and water combined into a single theatrical scene. It is also one of the few major monuments in the city best seen at night, when the lights and the sound of the water turn a small square into a stage.

PRACTICAL INFORMATION

Before you go

Access
The fountain is a public monument in a small square, open at all hours and free.
Best Time
Late evening, after the day-trip crowds thin, is the most atmospheric time; early morning is the quietest.
Context
The fountain is a short walk from the Pantheon and the Spanish Steps, in the heart of the historic centre.

MAP & LOCATION

Trevi Fountain

Trevi Fountain, Rome, Lazio, Italy

41.9009, 12.4833

Open in OpenStreetMap

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THINGS TO DO

Things to do nearby

01

Walk the historic centre from the Pantheon to Piazza Navona

02

Cross the Tiber to Trastevere at dusk

03

Explore the Appian Way and the catacombs

FOOD & DRINK

Where to eat nearby

01

Roscioli — a celebrated salumeria and trattoria near Campo de’ Fiori, Roman pastas and a peerless cheese counter

02

Armando al Pantheon — classic Roman cooking a stone’s throw from the Pantheon, book ahead

03

Da Enzo al 29 — the most loved of Trastevere’s honest trattorias, no-fuss carbonara and saltimbocca

04

Pizzarium — Gabriele Bonci’s by-the-slice pizza al taglio near the Vatican, arguably Rome’s best

05

Two Sizes — thin Roman-style pizza by the slice, eaten standing, near the Spanish Steps

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HOTELS & STAYS

Where to stay nearby

01

Hotel Locarno — a Liberty-style hotel near Piazza del Popolo, with a leafy courtyard and a rooftop

02

Hotel Raphael — a boutique hotel off Piazza Navona with a rooftop terrace over the rooftops

03

The Fifteen Keys Hotel — a small design hotel in Monti, a quiet base within walking distance of the Forum

04

Generator Rome — a stylish hostel near Termini, good value for a central stay

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NEARBY DESTINATIONS

Continue the journey

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