There’s a good chance most first time visitors to the Trevi Fountain already know the drill.
To ensure a return to Rome, you’re supposed to stand with your back to the fountain and toss a coin over your left shoulder using your right hand.
The tradition became iconic after the 1954 film Three Coins in the Fountain and its Oscar-winning theme song made famous by Frank Sinatra.
Though the fountain seems like an iconic ancient relic, it’s actually a product of the 18th century.
It was designed by Nicola Salvi, an almost unknown architect at the time. It was actually his one and only gig.
Today, it’s one of the most photographed monuments in Rome. And arguably the best known landmark of the city’s “modern” era.
But there’s far more to the Trevi Fountain than a coin toss. Here’s everything you need to know about its history, design, symbolism, and what it’s like to visit today.
You can visit the fountain with a guide on a walking tour or on a golf cart tour.
Overview & Quick Tips
The Trevi Fountain is currently enclosed with transparent barriers and features a horseshoe shaped walkway over the water. These measures were put in place to protect the monument and manage large crowds during the 2025 Jubilee.
Visitors follow a one way path, and entry is limited to 400 people at a time. The fountain is open from 9:00 am to 9:00 pm, with the last admission at 8:30 pm.
To visit, you must book a 30 minute time slot online. Tickets cost € 2 for non-residents.
Coin tossing into the fountain itself is strictly forbidden and may result in a € 50 fine. However, a temporary coin pool has been placed near the walkway so visitors can still make a wish, without harming the structure during renovations.
The coins are claimed by city administration and used for charitable works.
If you want to stay near the Trevi Fountain, check out J.K. Place Roma or Hassler Roma.
Trevi Fountain Guide
History
The Trevi Fountain stands on the site of an ancient water source dating back to 19 BC.
It once marked the end point of two Roman aqueducts, the Aqua Virgo and the Acqua Vergine. They’ve supplied fresh “virgin” water to the city for centuries. For 2,00O year really.
In the 18th century, Pope Clement XII launched a grand redesign. Two later popes kept the project alive. And all three left their names at the top, etched beside the papal coat of arms.
The name “Trevi” comes from the two Italian words tre vie, the three roads that converge at this spot.
It took 30 years to complete the new fountain, which was finally shown off in 1762.
In the old days, before over tourism, you could actually sit on the edge of the fountain and put your feet in. That’s strictly prohibited now.
The fountain was restored in 2014, thanks to Fendi sponsoring a clean up. To prep for the Jubilee, it’s being thoroughly cleaned again to get rid of the calcium deposits, grime, and bacteria.
Why Is It So Famous?
If you’ve been to Rome, you know how popular the fountain is. It’s absolutely flooded with tourists taking selfies. You can barely walk.
Why so famous? Mostly because it’s appeared in all these films and TV shows:
- La Dolce Vita (1960)
- Roman Holiday (1953)
- Three Coins in the Fountain (1954)
- Gidget Goes to Rome (1963)
- Sabrina Goes to Rome (1998)
- The Lizzie McGuire Movie (2003)
- Angels & Demons (2009)
- When in Rome (2010)
- Emily in Paris (Season 3, 2022)
So basically it’s entered into the Western consciousness, and is there to stay.
Design
In 1732, Pope Clement XII launched a public design competition for a new fountain. The winner was Nicola Salvi, a relatively unknown Roman architect.
His grand vision took nearly 30 years to complete. The fountain was finally unveiled in 1762.
Carved from travertine stone from Tivoli, the Trevi Fountain is both a triumph of engineering and a full-blown Baroque spectacle. For one thing, it’s enormous.
It measures nearly 164 feet wide and 85 feet high. It fills the compact Piazza di Trevi like a monumental stage set. And it remains the largest Baroque fountain in Rome.
At its center is a powerful scene. Oceanus, the god who personifies the origin of all water, stands tall in a central niche.
He rides a clam shell chariot drawn by mythical sea horses, their hooves pawing at the froth below. Tritons guide them, blowing into conch shells as waves crash dramatically into the basin.
The fountain is essentially grafted onto the back of the Palazzo Poli, which serves as a theatrical backdrop.
Above Oceanus is a coffered arch, flanked by two large relief panels that narrate the origin story of the fountain’s water source.
On the right, the relief depicts the discovery of the Aqua Virgo aqueduct in 19 BC. According to legend, a virgin helped parched Roman soldiers find a spring.
On the left, a group of Romans appears in reverence, genuflecting and holding a parchment. This signals their gratitude for the life saving water.
Flanking Oceanus in side niches are two allegorical female figures.
On the left, a woman holds a cornucopia, symbolizing the abundance of water.
On the right, another woman stands with a spear, a serpent curling up her arm—a classical symbol of wisdom. The message is clear: water is powerful, and must be used wisely.
Below Oceanus, water takes center stage … literally.
It surges from the fountain’s base, tumbling over jagged rock formations into the vast pool below. The horses rear and twist.
The tritons blow their horns. And the whole composition comes alive in a rush of motion and sound.
Here, water isn’t just decoration. It’s the protagonist, the force that animates everything in this theatrical, larger-than-life celebration of Rome’s enduring relationship with water.
At the top of the Trevi Fountain, above the central arch and main statuary, you’ll find a series of symbolic sculptures and inscriptions that tie the whole design together.
At the very top of the Trevi Fountain, you’ll see the coat of arms of Pope Clement XII, crowned by a papal tiara and crossed keys, flanked by allegorical angels.
Just below, four allegorical statues line the balustrade. These figures were created by several sculptors under the direction of Giuseppe Pannini, who took over the project after Nicola Salvi’s death.
Each one is draped in classical robes and holds symbolic objects (like cornucopias, flowers, or sheaves of grain). They all represent the life-giving power of water.
The entire fountain is richly adorned with sculptures carved from Carrara marble, giving it the feel of an outdoor sculpture gallery rather than a public water source.
It’s massive, ornate, and completely overwhelming—especially when you consider that the Piazza di Trevi is barely large enough to contain it.
If you’re looking for a taste of the famous “virgin” water, head to the far right hand corner of the fountain. Two small water spouts offer fresh, drinkable “virgin” water from the Aqua Virgo aqueduct.
Just don’t drink from the main fountain basin. It’s not potable and it’s illegal.
Underground
Directly beneath the Trevi Fountain lies an ancient Roman site called the Vicus Caprarius, often nicknamed the “City of Water.”
It includes remains of a 1st century Roman domus (elite residence), walls, corridors, mosaics, and even cisterns that once helped feed the Aqua Virgo Aqueduct.
Archaeologists discovered it during construction work in the 1990s. Built in 19 BC by Agrippa (Augustus’ general and son-in-law), this aqueduct still feeds the Trevi Fountain.
You can see water flowing beneath glass floors, remnants of the aqueduct’s distribution system.
Artifacts like pottery, coins, pipes, and architectural fragments are on display, helping reconstruct ancient Roman life.
>>> Click here to book a tour of the fountain and the underground
I hope you’ve enjoyed my guide to the Trevi Fountain. It’s a very touristy spot, but still beautiful in concept and execution.
You may find these other Rome travel guides useful:
- 1 day in Rome itineraries
- 2 days in Rome itinerary
- 3 day itinerary for Rome
- 4 day itinerary for Rome
- 5 day itinerary for Rome
- Hidden gems in Rome
- Best museums in Rome
- Guide to Palatine Hill
- Guide to the Roman Forum
- Guide to the Colosseum
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