The Trevi Fountain in a Sentence:
The Trevi Fountain is a Baroque masterpiece designed by Nicola Salvi in 1732 and completed by Giuseppe Pannini in 1762; it marks the end of the Acquedotto Vergine (the 19 BC Virgin’s Aqueduct), which continues to supply this iconic Roman landmark with water.
Baroque art in a sentence:
Baroque art (16th-18th centuries) is an explosion of emotion and drama: strong contrast of light and shadows, a lot of dynamism, and theatrical elements are in charge of intensely shaking the viewer.
Why is it Called the Trevi Fountain?
Hypothesis 1 (Three Streets): The name may come from the Trevi district, which is derived from the Latin word trivium, referring to the intersection of three ancient Roman streets.
Hypothesis 2 (Three Water Sources): It could also be named for collecting the waters of three branches of the Aqua Virgo aqueduct.
Why is it a virgin’s aqueduct? The legend
Legend recalls that, in 19 BC, Roman general Marco Vipsanio Agrippa commissioned the Virgin’s Aqueduct after a young virgin had saved his soldiers from thirst, guiding them to a secret spring.
The panel on the upper right depicts the girl’s encounter with the soldiers. The one on the left is Agrippa ordering the construction of the aqueduct.
That’s not Neptune! The Iconic Oceanus and Tritons of the Trevi Fountain
The central statue is not Neptune but the god Oceanus!
Oceanus is a Titan god of the ocean. He represents the primordial ocean (the universe’s water that birthed all things). He is a cosmologic figure while Neptune is a more grounded one, representing the waters the Romans could see and experience directly.
And those are tritons
At Oceanus’s sides in the Trevi Fountain are two tritons guiding two winged horses—one representing the stormy sea, the other symbolizing calm waters.
Who were the Tritons?
Sons of Oceanus (sometimes Neptune) and his partner, the sea goddess Teti, the Tritons are demigods. Part men and part fish, these creatures are the messengers of the sea, therefore sometimes calm and benevolent, other times stormy and menacing. The one guiding the calm horse plays a seashell trumpet, an instrument they use to calm storms.
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Who are the women statues in the Trevi fountain?
The left niche of the Trevi Fountain hosts the Goddess of Abundance (deducted by the cornucopia at her feet) representing the abundance brought from the water.
The right niche is house to the Goddess of Salubrity: she is watering a snake, a symbol of purity and wellness.
Let’s play! Hidden Emblems and Fun Folklore at the Trevi Fountain
Try to spot the emblem nestled between the rocks of the TREVI fountain. Found?
The rampant lion emblem belonged to Cardinal Giovanni Costanzo Caracciolo di Santobono, of Neapolitan origins but born in a ship in the middle of the Caribbean sea (his father had been appointed viceroy of Perù by the Bourbons). He was the “Procuratore delle Acque di Roma”, the aqueducts manager of Rome at the time. So, he was probably the one who had examined the projects and appointed Salvi to build the Trevi Fountain.
Now, look for a solitary acorn-shaped vase. Found?
Romans call it Asso di Coppe, referring to the ace of cups in the Italian playing cards.
According to a legend, behind it was the bodega of a barbershop whose favorite hobby was to criticize the work of Salvi while he was working on the construction of the Trevi fountain. Done with the man, the architect placed this huge vase to block the visual from the barbershop!
The Trevi Fountain’s Local Folklore
The Trevi Fountain Coin Toss: A Roman Tradition You Can’t Miss
Every year, Rome collects around one million euros from the coins thrown into the Trevi Fountain, and the proceeds go to charity. But how did this fascinating tradition begin?
The Origins of the Trevi Fountain Coin Toss
According to some sources, the custom dates back to the 19th century, when German archaeologist Wolfgang Helbig invented the ritual to help himself and his team cope with the sadness of leaving Rome. Instead of modern euros, dollars, or pounds, they tossed ancient coins and sealed the moment with a sip of the fountain’s water. However, today, the water is not drinkable, so don’t try that part!
How to Toss a Coin in the Trevi Fountain the Right Way
Follow these simple steps to ensure your wish to return to Rome comes true:
Optional: play the perfect song for this moment: Arrivederci Roma.
- Turn your back to the fountain
- Close your eyes
- Throw the coin using your right hand over your left shoulder
- Open your eyes and immediately turn around to watch your coin land in the water
If you do this properly, legend says you will come back to Rome!
More Meanings Behind the Coin Toss
Did you know you can throw up to three coins? Each one has a different meaning:
- 1st coin: Ensures your return to Rome
- 2nd coin: Helps you find true love
- 3rd coin: Leads to marriage (or, according to some, a divorce and a fresh start!)
The Love Fountain, A Forgotten Roman Tradition
To the right of the Trevi Fountain, you’ll find a small drinking fountain known as the Fontana degli Innamorati, the Love Fountain. In the past, when a young man had to leave Rome, his girlfriend would bring him there, fill a brand-new glass with the fountain’s water, and ask him to drink it all, and then break the glass. That done, the boyfriend would be bound to her forever, be loyal while far, and be back soon to get married.
The Trevi Fountain in the movies
Federico Fellini (director), Anita Ekberg and Marcello Mastroianni perfectly depict the hedonism of Rome’s society in the 50s and 60s when they bath in the Trevi Fountain “La Dolce Vita” (1960).
It is in a barbershop facing the Trevi Fountain that Audrey Hepburn gets her short haircut in Roman Holiday (1953).
Totò (the most famous Italian comedian) sold the Trevi fountain to a naive Italo/American businessman in 1961 (Totòtruffa’ 62)
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