Trevi Fountain (Fontana di Trevi)
With its imposing 26 meters of height and 20 meters of width, the Trevi Fountain is the largest Baroque fountain in Rome and one of the most important ones of its kind in the world. This flamboyant display of Baroque art was thought by Italian architect, Nicola Salvi, in 1732, and was later completed in 1762 by Giuseppe Pannini with the final touch sculpted by Pietro Bracci: the large central statue of Neptune, god of the sea. The site where stands the Trevi Fountain is where three roads (tre vie, in Italian) converge and was also the terminal point of the Aqua Virgo aqueduct (built in 19 BC), one of the eleven aqueducts which supplied water to ancient Rome.
Getting there
The Trevi Fountain is an easy walk from any of the other monuments of the historic center of Rome. It is also conveniently located near the A subway line, with Barberini station a 5 minute walk away. It is near bus lines and the main road Via del Corso, a necessary stop for those who need to stock up on last minute souvenirs and get their hands on some brand name clothing. From here, your next destination can be in any direction; to the East, you can head to the Quirinal gardens and palace; to the South, you have Piazza Venezia; to the West, there is the Pantheon, and to the North, you’ll find Piazza di Spagna. Any direction you take is the right direction!
Why go?
The Trevi Fountain is the place where you will make the promise to come back to the Eternal City. So if you fell in love with Rome and you want to guarantee yourself a ticket to visit it once more, tossing a coin into the fountain with your right hand over your left shoulder is a mandatory task. For the less superstitious spirits, marveling at the sight of such a beautiful structure is also a good enough excuse to make your way there.
Opening hours
The Trevi Fountain can be visited 24 hours a day. And now that its very long restoration is complete (as of November 3rd 2015), it is simply spectacular and just waiting for visitors to come and admire it.
Nice monument… Now where can I eat?
The Trevi district is one which is rich in restaurants… and tourist traps alike. If you don’t want to be a victim, make your way to the following addresses: “Da Olimpio” (for some delicious pizza), “Gioia Mia” (try the mouth watering risotto), “Colline Emiliane” (don’t miss the lasagna) and “Antica Birerria Peroni” (refreshing beer and much more). And for the daring crowd who wishes to cook in their Rome vacation rental, “L’Antico Forno” is a great choice for grocery shopping and fresh bread.
What is the Trevi Fountain up to today?
The Trevi Fountain is currently undergoing a much needed makeover which is expected to last 20 months as of June 2014. This means that most of its facade is going to be covered in ugly scaffolding. The good news? Renowned fashion house Fendi saves the day! With Fendi tossing in some large pennies to finance the restoration of the fountain, it’s no surprise that the fashion giant would find a “fashionable” way of giving some eye candy to the thousands of tourists who flock to this site every day. Nothing less than a plexiglass walkway has been built right over the fountain, a couple of meters from Neptune himself. This creative solution gives tourists the chance to follow the restoration work standing above the fountain itself. This privileged crowd can go back home and say “I have been IN the Trevi Fountain”, not just “TO the Trevi Fountain”!
November 2015 update: The Trevi Fountain is now open to the public! The perfect make-over is 100% complete and the fountain is now operational with water since Novembre 3rd. Go take a look!
