Piazza di Trevi - Piazzas of Italy by Ultimate Italy

Piazza Di Trevi

Piazza di Trevi is famous worldwide for its Fountain, which dominates the entire square. It is located close to Piazza de Spagna towards the Quirinale. It is quite closer to Piazza Venezia.

This fountain was originally commissioned to celebrate the end of the Aqua Vergine aqueduct built by Marcus Agrippa in 19 B.C. There is a legend illustrated in the upper panels of the fountain. It speaks of a young girl who showed Agrippa’s soldiers the place from which a copious spring gushed forth. This is how the aqueduct got its name. It is the only aqueduct in Rome, which has been in use almost uninterruptedly from its time of construction up to the present day. It supplies water to the historic center from Piazza Navona to Piazza de Spagna.

The name Trevi is supposed to be derived from the word Trivium, a meeting point of the three streets that form this piazza. Although the Trevi fountain was built with the contribution of many sculptors it was completed in 1762. Bernini and Pietro della Cortona were involved in the initial construction but Nicola Salvi completed it almost 100 years later. This fountain was built for Pope Clement XII.

This fountain is symbolic and almost theatrical in style. It is set almost totally against the face of Palazzo Poli. In the background there is an Arch of Triumph, which frames a statue of Neptune. Two tritons try to master an agitated seahorse and a placid one each seahorse symbolizing a distinct mood of the sea.

Salvi created a large basin, which is called Ace of Cups. It is common knowledge that one has to toss a coin into the fountain if they want to revisit Rome. However it is also emphasized that you have to toss it over your shoulder with your back to the fountain for the legend to come true.

This fountain has been the setting for classic scenes in many movies. Fellini’s La Dolce Vita features Marcello Mastroianni and Anita Ekberg wading through the fountain. It was also the setting for the award-winning movie Three Coins in the Fountain. These movies reinforced the popularity of the Trevi fountain worldwide.

The Trevi Fountain has become of the most popular visited spots in Rome and no visit to this eternal city is complete without visiting piazza Trevi. Do toss a coin in the fountain, the denomination doesn’t matter, as I’m sure you will fall in love with Rome and wish to visit it again and again.