Fountains - Learn About The Trevi Fountain

By George Harris


Water fountains have a very extended and intriguing history. Dating as far back as Historic Greece, where they were built over natural springs and moving forward to the present, individuals have been fascinated by them. Certainly, the beauty of fountains is loved by all people, regardless of culture and nationality. These days, many renowned and remarkable fountains are present and draw visitors from all over. Rome, Italy's capital and possibly its best-known city, hosts several of the country's best-loved fountains. Many visitors understand enough to make a stop by the world-famous Trevi Fountain to enjoy the traditional statues.

The Trevi Fountain is extremely popular for presenting one of the most beautiful statues in Italy, Neptune in the heart of two tritons, with one triton taming a fierce horse. This represents the rough sea. The other triton blowing a shell horn signifies a peaceful sea. The Trevi Fountain turned even more common after it had been showcased in the film "La Dolce Vita" when the actress Anita Ekberg took a late-night bath within the Trevi Fountain. It was also popularized by the Roman legend stating that hurling a coin inside the fountain could make you return to Rome.

The style of the Trevi was an attraction shared by a number of great Roman artists and popes. Bernini, artist, builder and a prolific builder of fountains in Rome, selected the Piazza Trevi as being the stage for the Baroque work of art in 1640, but he never ever saw his plans accomplished. Within the mid-18th century, Nicola Salvi won a papal competition to adapt Bernini's design and finish the project, however after twenty years work on the big fountain he passed away in 1751. Eleven years later, the project was completed by Giuseppe Panini and the fantastic sculpture of Neptune by Pietro Bracci placed in the middle.

Legend says a coin thrown in the Trevi Fountain assures a return trip to Rome. In order to work, the coin toss should be made with your back to the fountain. Visiting at night and going for a drink of the waters to toast that return to Rome is encouraged. Now a prosecutor states that pulling the coins from the fountain does not mean a trip to court. The 1954 Hollywood movie, "Three Coins in a Fountain" popularized the legend and it is just one of a number of movies which has highlighted the fountain as an iconic picture of Rome.

The Trevi Fountain is located on Via delle Muratte on a small square underneath the Quirinale Palace, an ancient papal residence as well as the modern-day home of the President of Italy. From morning to midnight, a large number of tourists crowd about the Trevi's broad basin to photograph this fantastical marble creation of mermen, seahorses, and flowing pools all presided over by the sea god Neptune. Tourists also check out the Trevi Fountain to get familiar with a ritual coin toss, since it is said that in case you toss a coin into the Trevi, then you will be assured a return vacation to the Eternal City.




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