Museo: Fontana di Trevi

Welcome to Trevi Square

Hello children! Are you ready to discover one of the most magical places in Rome? Welcome to Piazza di Trevi! This square looks like a grand open-air theater, all built around a truly special fountain: the Trevi Fountain. But did you know that the water you see flowing here comes from far away? It comes from an ancient Roman aqueduct built more than two thousand years ago, called the Aqua Virgo. Imagine, it used to carry water all the way to the Baths of Agrippa, near the Pantheon, and it is still in use today! The name “Trevi” comes from the Latin word trivium, which means “three streets”: it was right here that three Roman roads met. Look at the buildings around: they seem arranged precisely to embrace the fountain, like the wings of a theater. And that large one behind? That’s Palazzo Poli, with its imposing facade providing the perfect backdrop. The fountain you see was built a long time ago, in 1762, and it looks like a true spectacle of water and statues. In the center, there is a grand figure on a shell-shaped chariot: it’s Oceanus, the king of all the world’s waters, leading sea horses, one calm and one spirited! Pay attention to the sounds: the flowing water is not only beautiful to see, but also to listen to. It sounds like music made up of splashes, jets, and cascades. Both day and night, the light reflecting in the water makes the whole fountain sparkle, creating light plays like in a dream.

The Majestic Palazzo Poli

Behind the Trevi Fountain stands a very elegant palace: it is called Palazzo Poli. But it is not there by chance! Its facade was specifically redesigned to become part of the fountain. It's like the backdrop of a theater where a story unfolds, made of water, divinities, and nature. The palace takes its name from a family that owned it in the 17th century. Then, when it was decided to build the fountain, there was a need for a grand background, so architect Luigi Vanvitelli redesigned the entire front part. Today, inside it hosts the National Institute for Graphics, a place where drawings, prints, and artworks are studied and preserved. For us, Palazzo Poli adds significance to the fountain, and with its windows, columns, and decorations, it provides the perfect frame for this water spectacle.

The Facade of the Trevi Fountain

The Trevi Fountain is truly gigantic: it stands 26 meters tall and spans nearly 50 meters in width! It is constructed from travertine, a light-colored, highly durable stone that was used by the ancient Romans to build significant monuments like the Colosseum. Even today, many works in Rome are made from this material. The design of the fountain we see today was selected in 1732, when Pope Clement XII decided to embellish the terminal point of the ancient Aqua Virgo aqueduct. To achieve this, he organized a public contest among various architects. The winner was Nicola Salvi, who designed a spectacular fountain inspired by the Baroque style, rich in movement with a strong connection between architecture and sculpture. Unfortunately, Salvi died in 1751 before the work was completed. The project was finished by Giuseppe Pannini, who adhered to the original design but added some elements, such as the statues in the side niches. The fountain was finally inaugurated in 1762, after thirty years of construction. The central part of the fountain resembles a large triumphal arch, similar to those the Romans built to celebrate their victories. At the center stands the colossal statue of Oceanus, the symbolic god of all the world's waters, sculpted by Pietro Bracci. Oceanus is depicted standing on a chariot shaped like a shell, drawn by sea horses guided by Tritons, creatures that are half human and half fish. On either side are two significant statues: on the left, Abundance, with a cornucopia full of fruits; on the right, Health, holding a cup from which a serpent drinks, a symbol of health. These statues were carved by Filippo della Valle, a renowned artist of the time. Above the central arch is a large Latin inscription that commemorates the pope who commissioned the work. At the top, there are four statues representing the seasons, sculpted by different artists. If you look closely at the side walls of the fountain, you'll see two reliefs carved like stone paintings. They tell the legend of the Aqua Virgo aqueduct: in one scene, a group of Roman soldiers is led by a young girl to a water spring; in the other, Emperor Augustus orders the construction of the aqueduct. This story is so important that it gave the aqueduct its very name.

Oceanus: God of All Waters

At the center of the Trevi Fountain, there is a gigantic figure that seems ready to emerge from the water at any moment. Many people think it is Neptune, the Roman god of the sea, but in reality, it is Oceanus, an even more ancient figure! For the Greeks and Romans, Oceanus was not just the sea but the force encompassing all the waters of the world: rivers, lakes, seas, and springs. His statue, sculpted by Pietro Bracci in 1762, stands nearly six meters tall and is made of white marble. Oceanus has a majestic appearance: he stands on a shell-shaped chariot emerging amidst carved rocks and aquatic plants. The chariot is drawn by two sea horses, called hippocampi: one is calm and gentle, the other agitated and wild. This difference symbolizes the dual nature of water: it can be calm and beneficial, but also fierce and dangerous. Next to him are two Tritons, mythical creatures with human torsos and fish tails, attempting to guide the horses. One uses a large shell as a trumpet: it is said that Tritons played shells to announce the arrival of Poseidon, the god of the sea. The entire scene is sculpted with great energy: the waves seem to move, the hair and beards flutter, the muscles are tense... It feels as though the fountain is alive, ready to spring into action at any moment!

Tritons and Hippocampi

Now look closely at the base of the fountain: there are two groups of statues that move symmetrically yet very dynamically. In each group, a Triton attempts to guide a sea horse, or hippocampus. In Greek and Roman mythology, Tritons were the sons of Poseidon and Amphitrite, and they were part of his marine entourage. They were famous for their half-human, half-fish appearance and for the powerful sound of their spiral shells, used as trumpets. The horses they attempt to tame are not ordinary: they have horse-like front legs and fish tails. Here too, one of the horses is docile, while the other is restless. This is a deliberate choice by the artist, intended to represent the two ways water behaves: when it flows calmly and controlled, or when it becomes wild and difficult to manage. These statues were sculpted by Pietro Bracci, under the direction of architect Nicola Salvi. The details are truly incredible: you can see the contracted muscles of the Tritons, the focused expressions, the shimmering scales of the tails, and even the curls of the sea horses' manes. Everything contributes to the impression of continuous movement as if the statues were alive and truly wrestling with the forces of the sea.

Abundance and Health: The Water Guardians

On either side of the central part of the fountain, right next to the large niche where the Ocean stands, there are two female statues whose appearance seems to speak volumes: they are Abundance and Health. They were sculpted between 1735 and 1738 by Filippo della Valle. To the left, Abundance holds a cornucopia in her arms—a large horn filled with fruits, ears of grain, and flowers. It was a symbol from ancient mythology, used to represent wealth and everything nature offers thanks to water: abundant harvests, lush plants, and food for everyone. To the right is Health, the statue that represents well-being. In one hand she holds a cup, and next to her a snake is seen drinking from it. This symbol has existed since ancient times: the snake drinking from a cup is still used today as an emblem for medicine and pharmacies.

The Great Fountain and the Traditional Coin Toss

Before us opens the grand basin of the Trevi Fountain, nearly 50 meters wide! The water we see flowing here still arrives today from an aqueduct built over two thousand years ago: it's called the Aqua Virgo, inaugurated in 19 B.C. by Emperor Augustus. It carries clear water from a spring about 20 kilometers away, in the Roman countryside. The water enters the fountain through 21 spouts, hidden among the rocks and statues, creating a continuous play of cascades and splashes. The sound of the flowing water is part of the charm of the place: a true liquid symphony, as some artists call it. But this basin is also famous for a special tradition: the coin toss. According to legend, if you toss a coin with your right hand over your left shoulder, you will surely return to Rome. If you toss two, you will find love. And with three... you will get married! Each year, more than a million euros in coins are collected. Since 2001, all this money has been donated to Caritas of Rome, which uses it to help people in need. During the 2014 restoration, the basin was completely emptied for maintenance work, and real mountains of coins were found at the bottom, of every shape, material, and origin. Each of those coins tells a hope, a wish, a small dream left among the stones of the Eternal City.

Acqua Vergine: An Aqueduct Through the Centuries

The water flowing in the Trevi Fountain is not just a scenic element but the result of an extraordinary engineering feat: the Aqua Virgo, one of the eleven aqueducts of ancient Rome, inaugurated in 19 B.C. during the reign of Augustus. It was commissioned by Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa, the emperor's son-in-law and the official responsible for the city's hydraulic network. His objective? To supply his baths in the Campus Martius with clean and constant water. The name "Virgo" stems, according to legend, from a maiden who pointed out the spring to a group of soldiers. The source still exists today near Salone, east of Rome. The aqueduct is notable for two exceptional features: its almost entirely underground path and its minimal gradient, marking a level of technical precision astonishing for its time. Over the centuries, the Aqua Virgo has been restored several times, especially during the Renaissance, becoming an integral part of the urban planning beautification schemes in the city. Today, as you watch the water gush in the fountain, you are witnessing the culmination of a journey that began more than two thousand years ago.

A Stone Garden Inside the Fountain

The Trevi Fountain is not just composed of statues of gods and sea horses: if you look closely at the sculpted rocks at the base, you'll notice something truly special. Among the waves and splashes of water, there are plants, branches, and flowers, all intricately carved into the stone with incredible attention to detail. It is a true stone garden, crafted with hammer and chisel! You can recognize the acanthus leaves, which symbolize rebirth and enduring life. They were already present in ancient Greek art and are often used in the capitals of Corinthian columns. There are also laurel branches, a symbol of victory and glory, very much favored by the Romans: imagine that laurel wreaths were placed on the heads of emperors and poets! Amidst these decorative elements, we also find algae, aquatic plants, and other vegetative forms typical of humid environments, all carved as if they were real. Nothing is left to chance. This rocky garden was meticulously designed by architect Nicola Salvi, who wanted to create a landscape as natural and realistic as possible, as if the fountain were emerging directly from a spring in the midst of nature. It is a silent homage to the beauty of nature, blending with mythology and Roman engineering. A small wonder that can only be discovered if one looks attentively.