TREVI FOUNTAIN – MODERN MARVEL WITH A FABLED PAST

The Trevi Fountain serves as a modern marvel that links back to Rome's fabled past. If you have been to Rome, you must have seen the Trevi Fountain and chances are, you must have thrown a coin in it and made a wish. Located in the Piazza di Trevi in the Quirinale district of Rome, Italy, Trevi fountain is the great symbol of Rome’s baroque period, and a testimony to the city’s endurance as a cultural centre. Yet this fountain also has ancient origins. Emperor Augustus was moved by an old legend that thirsty soldiers had been shown the spot by a young maiden, and he built there the Aqua Virgo (virgin water). This water served Rome for 400 years. 

 

The city of Rome has over 300 monumental and beautiful fountains. Still, most tourists choose to flock to just one - the iconic Trevi Fountain. The landmark is considered a must-visit for every tourist, but what is it that makes the Trevi Fountain stand out from the rest? Apart from its elegance and grandeur, the Trevi Fountain has a history that spans millennia, as well as a few interesting traditions linked to it. Even the way the fountain is supplied with water is a fascinating story.

 

History:

If Roman historians are to be believed then there was a fountain at this very location more than two thousand years ago. In Latin, an intersection of three roads is known as a trivium. The name “Trevi” originated from the fountain’s location at the junction of three prominent Roman streets. Today, these 3 roads are called Delle Muratte Street, Poli Street, and Crocicchi Street, but they had other names in the past. During the Middle Ages, the fountain was briefly abandoned, and only a tiny stream is said to have flown from it. However, during the Renaissance and onwards, the popes of Rome conjured up a plan to restore and expand the fountain. This was despite the fact that there was already a building standing at the Trevi intersection. This building was Palazzo Poli, a 17th-century residence of the Duke of Poli. Parts of the building were demolished to make space for a big fountain. That’s why the Trevi Fountain leans against the remaining building, which is now an office.

 

Design and Construction:

It all began in 1629, when Pope Urban VIII decided to commission his favorite architect Gian Lorenzo Bernini to expand the existing fountain in Piazza di Trevi. Bernini sketched out a two-tiered structure, but then the pope passed away, and the project was shelved for a hundred years. Luckily, Bernini’s work wasn’t all in vain; his vision heavily influenced the final structure of the fountain. In 1730, Pope Clement XII chose to revitalize the Trevi Fountain project. In order to choose an architect, the city held a contest, and after much deliberation, architect Nicola Salvi was commissioned to design the Trevi Fountain. Salvi worked from 1732 with several sculptors to create the fountain we see today, but unfortunately, he didn’t live to see it finished. The fountain was completed by Giuseppe Pannini in 1762.

 

The Sculpture:

The Trevi Fountain grows out of Palazzo Poli’s baroque facade - like a natural waterfall emerging from a rocky cliff. The entire structure is carved out of Travertine limestone, which was transported to Rome from the nearby city of Tivoli. The fountain represents the Roman God Oceanus, who tames wild waters and brings balance to the world. However, Oceanus doesn’t appear alone. In a niche to his left, we see a smiling goddess of Abundance with a basket of fruits. To his right is Salus, the goddess of safety, health, and welfare with a snake coiled around an amphora. The top of the fountain is dedicated to his own history. Written above the statues are the names of the popes who commissioned the fountain surrounded by reliefs of angels and the Papal Coat of Arms. There are also two images illustrating the history of Roman aqueducts.

 

The four statues at the top represent the abundance water brings. From left to right you’ll see Abundance of Fruit which holds a horn of plenty. The Fertility of Crops which holds wheat ears. Products of Autumn which holds a cup and grapes. Finally Joy of Prarie and Gardens which is adorned with flowers.  The last is the most iconic in my opinion.  It represents the complete luxury of growing flowers for personal happiness.

The four statues of abundance water brings

 

It is said that during the fountain's construction, a local barber was constantly annoyed by the noise and debris. Day in and day out, he'd pester Salvi with his dismay. Spitefully, Salvi erected the "Ace of Cups" sculpture at the left of the fountain so that the barber would never have a view of the masterpiece once it was completed.

Ace of Cups

 

The interesting water supply

The water supply of the Trevi fountain hasn’t changed since its construction over two millennia ago. The water source is located some fourteen miles away, where the famous Roman aqueduct called Acqua Vergine begins. This aqueduct was commissioned in 19 BC by the famous Roman statesman and emperor Augustus’ son-in-law Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa. At the time, it was one of eleven aqueducts that provided Rome’s citizens with access to drinking water. Today, Acqua Vergine remains the only functioning ancient aqueduct in Rome.

 

Roman engineers are renowned for creating arched aqueducts. These amazing structures were devised in such a way that water flowed in a steady and manageable stream using gravity. The longest Roman aqueduct was the Aqueduct of Valens which supplied Constantinople; it was 426 km (264 miles) long! The massive water system of Rome was serviced by hundreds of workers who cleaned lime buildup and debris from aqueducts and lead pipes. It’s amazing to think that many of those ancient aqueducts still stand and work today - over 2,000 years after their construction!

Throwing coins in Trevi

You will be surprised to know that visitors collectively throw one million Euros worth of coins into the Trevi Fountain every year, according to a 2022 article from Euronews Travel. There are so many coins that a team of city workers is tasked with fishing them out of the fountain each year. And all that money gets donated to a local charity that feeds the homeless population. The fortune at the bottom of the fountain is also likely the reason why swimming in the Trevi Fountain is prohibited. If you try to take a dip the Italian Policia will wait for you and ask for your documents and will fine you the juicy amount of €450

 

But why do people throw coins into the fountain in the first place? This is undoubtedly the most popular tourist experience in Rome. The ritual involves visitors to hold a coin, turn away from the fountain, and toss the coin over their shoulder and into the fountain. The tradition most likely began after the release of the 1954 movie Three Coins in the Fountain. According to the lore of the film, if you throw one coin into the Trevi Fountain, you will return to Rome. Those who throw two coins will fall in love with someone they meet at the fountain. Those willing to part with three coins will marry the person they met. I can’t vouch for the accuracy of that myth, but there’s certainly no harm in trying. After all, the coins are all donated to a worthy cause!

 

Repair and maintenance

In 2012, after a harsh winter, pieces of cornice began to fall from the historic fountain, creating an immediate need for restoration. Two years later, in June 2014, the fountain was shut off drained, and cloaked in scaffolding for what would be 17 months. To carry on the tradition of coin-throwing, a basin was added to its base during renovations. In November 2015, €2.2 million worth of renovations were revealed and the Trevi Fountain's emerald waters finally returned.

 

In 2007 and the again ten years later in 2017, an Italian activist Graziano Cecchini dyed the water in the Trevi Fountain red in protest of corruption in Rome. Cecchini had no intention of damaging the landmark permanently and the stunt didn't, of course. Both times, the fountain was quickly drained before the precious stone was able to absorb the stain.

 

 

The problem is that the fountain faces the relatively small Piazza di Trevi and the large number of tourists visiting it each day causes not only a “traffic jam” and packed spaces, but also damage to the fountain itself with tourists sitting on it for the perfect photo op. That’s why the municipality of Rome has a new proposal to better regulate the access to the Piazza and even build a protective barrier around the fountain so that tourists won’t be able to sit on the marble or jump into the water. I don’t think that will look good in the foreground of the beautiful fountain.