The Trevi Fountain (Italian: Fontana di Trevi) is an 18th-century fountain located in the Trevi district of Rome, Italy. It was designed by Italian architect Nicola Salvi and completed by Giuseppe Pannini in 1762. The fountain stands about 86 feet tall and is about 161 feet wide. It is the largest Baroque fountain in the city and one of the most famous fountains globally.

History

The fountain, located where three roads meet (tre vie), marks the end of the "modern" Acqua Vergine—a restarted version of the Aqua Virgo, an ancient aqueduct that brought water to Rome. In 19 BC, Roman engineers, with the help of a virgin, found a clean water source about 13 km (8.1 mi) from the city. (This scene is shown on the fountain’s front.) However, the aqueduct’s path was longer than expected, making its total length about 22 km (14 mi). The Aqua Virgo carried water to the Baths of Agrippa and served Rome for more than 400 years.

During the 6th century AD, aqueducts were poorly maintained and damaged during the Ostrogoths’ invasion. Though the Acqua Vergine was weakened after the Goths’ siege in 537, it remained in use during the Middle Ages. Restorations began as early as the 8th century, and again in the 12th century by the city government. At that time, the aqueduct was connected to water sources closer to the city, in an area called "Trebium."

The Acqua Vergine aqueduct brings water from 10 km (6.2 mi) outside Rome to the Trevi Fountain. It is still used today, even though some repairs caused the fountain to be empty for short periods. Scientists believe the water’s lack of calcium is a reason for this.

In 1629, Pope Urban VIII, unhappy with the old fountain’s design, asked Gian Lorenzo Bernini to create new plans. The project was not completed after the Pope’s death. Although Bernini’s ideas were never built, some of his designs are visible in the fountain today. Other early designs, including one by Pietro da Cortona and sketches by Nicola Michetti, Ferdinando Fuga, and Edmé Bouchardon, also exist.

During the Baroque era, contests were common for designing buildings, fountains, and the Spanish Steps. In 1730, Pope Clement XII held a competition. Nicola Salvi initially lost to Alessandro Galilei, but after public complaints, Salvi was chosen. Construction began in 1732.

When Salvi designed the fountain, a palace (now the Palazzo Poli) stood on the site. He built the fountain into the palace’s back wall. Salvi died in 1751 before finishing the work, but he ensured a barber’s sign would not spoil the design by hiding it behind a sculpted vase called the "Ace of Cups." Four sculptors—Pietro Bracci, Filippo della Valle, Giovanni Grossi, and Andrea Bergondi—helped complete the fountain. Giuseppe Pannini, son of Giovanni Paolo Panini, was the architect.

The Trevi Fountain was completed in 1762 by Pannini, who replaced planned statues of Agrippa and Trivia with current allegorical figures. It was officially opened on 22 May by Pope Clement XIII. Most of the fountain is made from Travertine stone, quarried near Tivoli, about 35 km (22 mi) east of Rome.

The fountain’s name comes from the Latin word "trivium," meaning "meeting point of three streets." It is located at the center of Via De’ Crocicchi, Via Poli, and Via Delle Muratte.

The fountain was cleaned in 1988 and 1998 to remove dirt from pollution. In 2014, a major restoration began with funding from Fendi, a fashion company. The work included adding over 100 LED lights to improve nighttime lighting. The fountain was reopened on 3 November 2015.

On 21 May 2023, activists from the group Ultima Generazione dyed the fountain’s water with charcoal. Rome’s mayor criticized the act, as the polluted water would need to be replaced, costing a large amount of money. Ryan Maue, a former scientist, called the attackers "climate eco-anarchists."

Starting in February 2026, Rome’s city government requires non-residents to buy a 2-euro ticket to approach the fountain and toss coins into the water. This is part of efforts to control crowds at the busy site. Tickets are needed from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Mondays and Fridays, and from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. on other days. After 10 p.m., the fountain is free to access.

According to Rome’s tourism councillor, Alessandro Onorato, the ticket system could earn over six million euros yearly. These funds would support fountain restorations, pay for 25 staff members, and allow free museum access for locals.

Iconography

The fountain is set against the Palazzo Poli, which has a new façade featuring large Corinthian pilasters that connect the two main floors. The fountain's design focuses on controlling water, combining water and rock to fill the small square. Tritons guide Oceanus’s shell chariot, helping to control the hippocamps.

At the center, a strongly shaped triumphal arch is placed on top of the palazzo’s façade. The central niche, or exedra, that frames Oceanus includes free-standing columns to create strong contrasts between light and shadow. In the niches beside Oceanus, Abundance pours water from an urn, and Salubrity holds a cup from which a snake drinks. Above these figures, bas reliefs show the Roman origins of the aqueducts.

The Tritons and horses are arranged symmetrically, with a strong contrast in their expressions and positions. By 1730, the Rococo style was already popular in France and Germany.

Coin throwing

The most well-known and long-lasting tradition involves throwing a coin into the fountain before leaving "the eternal city." This custom is based on a belief that doing so may help someone return to the city in the future. Coins are said to be thrown with the right hand over the left shoulder while facing away from the fountain. This tradition was the subject of the 1954 movie Three Coins in the Fountain and its Academy Award-winning song, which helped introduce the film.

Each day, about 3,000 euros are thrown into the fountain. In 2016, approximately 1.4 million euros (about 1.5 million U.S. dollars) were placed into the fountain. The money is given to the Caritas association, which uses it for charitable work. However, some people attempt to take coins from the fountain, even though this is against the law.

Because the fountain attracts many visitors, Rome officials are thinking about ways to manage the large crowds. Ideas include limiting access by requiring reservations. A platform will be built around the fountain’s lower part, allowing only a limited number of people to visit at a time. A waiting system was introduced after the fountain reopened in December 2024, following a three-month restoration. A maximum of 400 visitors is allowed each day.

In popular culture

The Trevi Fountain is shown in the third part, "The Trevi Fountain at Noon," of Ottorino Respighi's 1916 symphonic poem Fountains of Rome.

The fountain has been in many movies, including Roman Holiday (1953), Three Coins in the Fountain (1954), Federico Fellini's classic La Dolce Vita (1960), Sabrina Goes to Rome (1998), and The Lizzie McGuire Movie (2003). In Federico Fellini's 1960 film La Dolce Vita, Anita Ekberg walks into the fountain with Marcello Mastroianni.

In 1973, Italy's national postal service created a stamp featuring the Trevi Fountain.

Lego made a model of the Trevi Fountain on March 1, 2025.

Replicas

A monumental structure measuring 11 meters high (36 feet) and 20.6 meters wide (68 feet) was constructed in 2023 in Serra Negra, Brazil. A similar version of this structure is located near Caesars Palace in Las Vegas.