Trevi Fountain Rome – Walking Distance from Hotel

Trevi Fountain Rome

The Trevi Fountain in Rome seems like Rome’s busiest spot due to the sheer concentration of people. The name Trevi is derived from the Italian Tre Vie or 3 streets as there used to be only 3 roads into the square which contains the fountain now there are 5.

The Trevi Fountain was designed by Nicola Salvi is known as the Queen of Monument. To understand how this majestic of fountains came to be we first of all have to study the connection between Rome and Water. The political and economic growth of a city is closely linked to the availability of fresh water. It became the emperors responsibility to provide enough clean water for the city to ensure a healthy population. Of course, if you have a healthy population you have more men to go out and wage war... consequently it became tradition to celebrate the water’s arrival point by building an elaborate fountain.

The first aqueduct of Rome was constructed in 312BC, aqueduct is derived from the Italian word acqua meaning water, and was called the Aqua Appia. The last aqueduct of the Roman Empire was constructed in 226 AD and was called the Aqua Alexandrina. At this point there were 11 aqueducts supplying the city of Rome. All these aqueducts had a terminal fountain i.e. a monumental display of water arriving in the city.

In 337AD Constantine moved the centre of the Roman Empire across to Byzantiniium, renaming it Constantinople present day Istanbul. When the Roman Empire fell into decline and the aqueducts were not maintained Rome’s days were numbered. Finally, in 537AD Rome was attacked by the Goths who cut off the aqueducts therefore strangling the city of Rome and thus preventing a fresh supply of water from reaching the city. The only aqueduct to survive was the Aqueduct built by Marcus Agrippa in 19BC called the Acqua Vergine. It is this aqueduct which supplies the water today to the Trevi Fountain, Piazza Farnese, Spanish Steps and Bernini’s Fountains in Piazza Navona. Marcus Agrippa had the aqueduct built underground stretching 20km from it’s source in the hills. After the Goths attacked the city only a minimal supply of water came out of this aqueduct and this is how it remained until Pope Nicholas V restored it in 1453. There followed a succession of fountains but it was under Pope Clement XII that there was a competition for the design of this magnificent fountain.

Nicola Salvi won the competition and the Trevi Fountain was created, unfortunately for him he never saw the project completed as he died from poor health probably attributable to staying underground in a dark, damp grotto to oversee the construction work. Click Here to see a virtual tour of the Trevi Fountain

Oceanus God of all Waters

The fountain itself is a perfect fusion of architecture and sculpture. The centre piece features Oceanus riding triumphiantly through the centre arch, remiiniscent of the triumphial arches of the emperors in the Forum. Oceanus was the God of all waters and also of the Cooling Winds. That is why his hair and drapery seem to be billowing in the wind. On either side of Oceanus in the smaller arches are the 2 statues of Fertility and Health symbolising the beneficial effects of drinking this water.

In the basin below the sculpture you can see 2 Tritons with 2 sea horses. One sea horse is being calmly led out of the water – symbolic of the life giving qualities of water. The other sea horse is struggling symbolising that too much water can also kill you i.e. drowning. There is much greenery evident throughout the sculpture again reinforcing the life giving qualities of water.

The 2 relief panels above Fertility and Health show Marcus Grippa’s soldiers being shown the source of the water by a virgin hence the name of the aqueduct i.e. Aqua Vergine or Virgin’s water. The second panel shows Marcus Agrippa inspecting the construction plans of the aqueduct. The four sculptures above the panels depict the 4 seasons Summer, Spring, Winter and Autumn intending that no matter what time of year it is water is still crucial to our survival.

Trevi Fountain Roma

Trevi Fountain – modern day history. The fountain featured in the film La Dolce Vita or sweet life which saw Anita Ekberg having a swim. Many people have since tried to emulate her feat but have simply hauled out by the 24 security guards on hand and fined 500 Euro on the spot. Besides, the water is no good for swiimming as it is pumped full of bleach. The fountain also figured in the film “3 coins in the fountain” which gave rise to the popular modern day legend which goes as follows: Basically your dreams and wishes will come true if you throw some coins into the fountain but, you have to do it properly or it won’t work. Put a coin in your right hand and turn round so your back is facing the fountain. Now throw the coin over your left shoulder. One coin and you will come back to Rome, 2 coins and you will return to Rome and be kissed, 3 coins and you will return to Rome, be kissed and get married in Rome.

Once a month the Trevi Fountain is cleaned with a huge underground vacuum cleaner. All the euro coins go to the Italian Arts Council with the foreign coins being donated to the international red cross.