Fountain di Trevi

No frolicking in the fountain

Word to the wise: Although immortalised by actress Anita Ekberg’s frolics in Federico Fellini's “La Dolce Vita”, don’t be tempted to do the same. Bathing in the fountain is strictly illegal.
This magnificent masterpiece is one of Rome’s most famous celebrities with thousands of visitors making a beeline for it every day. One of the first things that will catch your eye is its sheer size, standing at an enormous 26m high and 20m wide.

Designed by Italian architect Nicolò Salvi, construction started in 1732 and was completed 30 years later, 11 years after Salvi’s death. The fountain’s central figure is Neptune (god of the sea) who is riding a shell-shaped chariot pulled along by two horses.
There’s an old tradition of throwing coins into the fountain. Legend has it that the first coin ensures your return to Rome, the second coin leads to a romance with an Italian and the third leads to marriage with that person. And in case you’re wondering where all that cash goes to, workers hoover up around EUR 3,000 every day which is distributed to a number of charities.