At a Glance
| Where | Piazza di Trevi, Rione Trevi, Rome |
|---|---|
| Architect | Nicola Salvi (1732–1751); completed by Giuseppe Pannini |
| Inauguration | 22 May 1762 by Clement XIII |
| Dimensions | 49.15 m × 26.3 m |
| Water | Acqua Virgo (19 BC), aqueduct built by Agrippa |
| Access | Free, 24 hours a day (experimental tariff in some daytime hours) |
| Zone | ZTL — pedestrian only |
History in Brief
The Context: Agrippa and the Aqua Virgo
The story of the Trevi Fountain begins in 19 BC, when Marcus Agrippa — general, architect and right-hand man of Augustus — had an aqueduct built to supply his baths on the Campus Martius. The aqueduct was called Aqua Virgo (Virgin Aqueduct) owing to a legend: during construction, a young girl reportedly showed thirsty soldiers a spring about 14 km from Rome, on the Via Collatina.
The Aqua Virgo had a unique characteristic among all major Roman aqueducts: it ran entirely underground, without visible arches. This protected it from enemy attack and from atmospheric pollution, keeping the water cool and clear.
To this day — two millennia later — the Acqua Vergine Antica is the only original Roman aqueduct still functioning in the world. It is the same water that fills the Trevi Fountain basin.
From the Medieval Crossroads to the Renaissance
The name "Trevi" derives from the Latin trivium: the point where three roads converge. The area was an important crossroads in Roman times, with a modest terminal display of the aqueduct.
After the fall of the Western Roman Empire (476 AD) and the damage of the Gothic War (537 AD), the aqueduct remained partially operational but fell into neglect. The first significant restoration came under Pope Nicholas V (1447–1455): the aqueduct was repaired and in 1453 Leon Battista Alberti designed a small terminal fountain — the first predecessor of the current one.
The Eighteenth-Century Project
In 1730 Pope Clement XII held a competition for the construction of a grand monumental fountain. The Roman Nicola Salvi (1697–1751) won. Work began in 1732. Salvi died in 1751, before completion, and the work was finished by Giuseppe Pannini.
The fountain was inaugurated on 22 May 1762 by Clement XIII, almost thirty years after work had begun.
Architecture and Sculptures
The Structure
The fountain stands 26.3 metres tall and 49.15 metres wide — dimensions that make it the largest Baroque fountain in Rome. The backdrop consists of the façade of Palazzo Poli, deliberately redesigned by Salvi as an architectural scenery.
The centre is dominated by a triumphal arch with columns in Roman travertine quarried at Tivoli. Two smaller lateral niches open on either side.
Neptune / Oceanus
The central statue — approximately 5 metres tall — traditionally represents Neptune, but art historians identify it more precisely as Oceanus: an allegorical figure of universal dominion over water, not the god of the sea in the strict sense. The sculpture is the work of Pietro Bracci (1769).
Oceanus rides a shell-shaped chariot drawn by two sea horses — one agitated, one calm, symbolising the contrasting forces of the sea — guided by two tritons.
The Lateral Allegories
- Left niche: Abundance (Salubrità delle Acque) — work by Filippo della Valle
- Right niche: Salubrità (Abbondanza delle Acque) — work by Filippo della Valle
Above the niches, four bas-reliefs narrate the history of the Aqua Virgo.
The Fendi Restoration (2015–2016)
After decades of accumulation of black dust (nitrogen and sulphur oxides from urban air) and limestone encrustations, the fountain had visibly darkened. In 2015 the Italian fashion house Fendi donated €2.18 million for the most important restoration since the 1980s.
Duration: November 2015 – November 2016. Key aspects:
- Surface cleaning: micro-abrasion, laser, biocides for algae
- Sculptural consolidation: epoxy resins for micro-fractures
- Hydraulic system renewal
- LED system: 60% energy saving, warmer colour temperature
- Permanent structural monitoring sensors
The basin was drained: millions of layered coins and objects abandoned over the decades were revealed.
The Coins and Caritas
Around 3,000 coins per day end up in the basin. Over a year roughly €1.5 million accumulates. Since 2007 the collection has been managed by Caritas Rome for programmes assisting the poor.
The coin tradition:
- One coin = return to Rome
- Two coins = falling in love
- Three coins = marriage
The correct gesture: right hand, back to the fountain, coin thrown over the left shoulder.
Practical Information
Opening Hours and Access
The Trevi Fountain is outdoors and accessible 24 hours a day, without a ticket. Since 2024 an experimental tariff of €2 has been active in some daytime hours. Check the updated situation on the Rome municipality website.
When to Visit
- Best: before 8:00 (almost deserted, natural morning light)
- Second choice: after 21:00 (illuminated fountain, progressively emptying)
- Avoid: 10:00–17:00 in summer (3,000–4,000 people simultaneously)
How to Get There
The fountain is in a ZTL zone: private cars cannot access it. The options are:
- Metro: line A, Barberini stop (700 m on foot)
- Bus: lines 40, 62, 116, 117
- On foot: from the Pantheon 15 min, from Piazza di Spagna 15 min, from the Colosseum 40 min
- Private driver: drop-off on adjacent streets (Via del Tritone, Via della Muratte)
Rules
- It is forbidden to enter or wade in the basin (fine)
- Sitting on the balustrade is not permitted
- No eating or drinking in the immediate vicinity of the monument
The Connection with La Dolce Vita
In 1960 Federico Fellini filmed one of the most iconic scenes in world cinema: Anita Ekberg enters the fountain at night, in an evening gown. The scene was filmed in December 1958/January 1959, with the water at 12–14°C. Since then the Trevi Fountain has become a dual symbol: an 18th-century Baroque monument and a global pop icon.
Visiting the Trevi Fountain with a Private Driver
Trevi Fountain in total comfort: arrive at dawn before the crowds and let your driver take you to the next stops on the itinerary. Service from €49. → Book your driver at myromedriver.com
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Trevi Fountain free? Access is free. Since 2024 an experimental tariff of €2 has been active in some daytime hours.
How large is the Trevi Fountain? 49.15 m × 26.3 m — the largest Baroque fountain in Rome.
Where does the water come from? From the Aqua Virgo, an aqueduct built by Agrippa in 19 BC, still functioning.
Can I swim or wade in the fountain? No. It is forbidden by law and subject to a fine.
When was it last restored? 2015–2016, restoration financed by Fendi for €2.18 million.
Article no. 100 — TIER S — MON-05 Trevi Fountain Type: HISTORICAL Words: ~1,200