The Trevi Fountain Coin Toss And Other Amazing Secrets

The Trevi Fountain coin toss is a tourist tradition, but there are several other interesting facts and legends of this beautiful fountain that you may not know.

Trevi Fountain Coin Toss - Oceanus — Oceanus

The Trevi Fountain is the most spectacular and largest fountain in Rome and it is one of the major sites and symbols of the Eternal City. It has become one of the essential stops for tourists on a visit to the city because Trevi Fountain amazes not only for its beauty, but also for its fascinating history. Particularly exalted by Fellini’s film “La Dolce Vita”, it welcomes hundreds of visitors every day, ready for a coin toss into its precious basin and begin living La Dolce Vita!

Trevi Fountain Coin Toss And Other Secrets

Trevi Fountain Coin Toss - Crowds — Popular At Night

The Trevi Fountain is considered one of the most beautiful and famous fountains in the world. It is located in the Trevi neighborhood of Rome.
The origin of the fountain name is not certain, but the most common belief is that it comes from the Latin word: trivium, which indicates the confluence of three streets in the Piazzetta dei Crociferi, located on the side of the modern Piazza di Trevi. The fountain is located right in the center of De ‘Crocicchi Street, Poli Street, and Delle Muratte Street.
The fountain was built during the Baroque period and completed in 1762. It was designed by Italian architect Nicola Salvi and completed by Giuseppe Pannini and others.
The central figure in the Trevi Fountain is a statue of the Titan god of the river Oceanus, but he is also known, incorrectly, by the Roman god of freshwater and the sea, Neptune, riding in a shell-shaped chariot.
The Trevi Fountain coin toss is a must. According to legend, throwing one coin into the Trevi Fountain guarantees a traveler’s return to Rome. Throwing two coins with the right hand over the left shoulder are said to guarantee a return trip and a wish, while three coins guarantee a return trip, a wish, and a new romance.
The coins thrown into the Trevi Fountain are collected every day and given to Caritas, a Catholic charity organization, to help the needy. I have more information on that below.
The Trevi Fountain was featured in the famous 1953 movie “Roman Holiday”, the 1954 movie “Three Coins in the Fountain“, the 1960 classic “La Dolce Vita” and also “The Lizzie McGuire Movie” in 2003.
Trevi Fountain was originally built to provide drinking water to the residents of Rome and to commemorate the reconstruction of the Aqua Virgo (Acqua Vergine), an ancient aqueduct.
The Trevi Fountain was restored in the 1990s and took several years to complete. The restoration involved cleaning and reinforcing the statue, as well as replacing missing elements and fixing damage.
The fountain is illuminated at night by more than 100 LED lights, creating a beautiful and romantic atmosphere.
The Trevi Fountain is said to be cursed, with legends claiming that anyone who removes even a small stone from the fountain will suffer misfortune.
During World War II, the fountain was used as a source of drinking water for soldiers, and it was also used to hide refugees from the Nazis.
The Trevi Fountain has been the subject of several artworks and depictions, including paintings, photographs, and even music compositions. It remains a popular tourist destination and continues to be a symbol of Rome and its rich history.

What Happens If You Do The Trevi Fountain Coin Toss?

One other tradition that you can partake in is the tossing of coins into the fountain. There are estimates that approximately €3,000 every day are tossed into the fountain for good luck.

Trevi Fountain Coin Toss - The Collection — Coins In The Fountain

Made popular by the movie Three Coins In The Fountain, the legend has it that if you throw a coin with your right hand backwards over your left shoulder into the fountain and wish to return to Rome, you will. If you are wondering what happens with these coins, they are now regularly collected and donated to the Roman Catholic charity Caritas which is a nonprofit that provides food to the poor, which is better than the old process of allowing a Roman thief to scoop up the coins for himself. Yes, he was arrested multiple times and died in 2013. The scenes of these famous movies have contributed to the fountain’s iconic status. People dream of seeing it and taking pictures of it at least once in their lifetime.

What Is The Location Of Trevi Fountain?

The Trevi Fountain is unsurprisingly in the Trevi section (Rione) of Rome. This area is close to the political center of Rome, which includes the Quirinale Palace, the home of the President of Italy. It is also a short walk to Barberini’s Fontana del Tritone at one end of Via del Tritone.

Trevi Fountain Coin Toss - Pegasus — Pegasus And Man

The Trevi Fountain is the most spectacular and largest fountain in Rome at almost 65 feet wide and 85 feet high and it should not be surprising that the fountain uses more than 2,824,800 cubic feet of water every single day. Today the water is recycled instead of being wasted as it was in the past.

Through occasional cleanings, the water in the fountain is kept crystal clear and while it might seem like a good idea to frolic in the water, I can assure you it is not. With a continuous police presence who are watching for someone wanting to recreate the famous scene with Anita Ekberg inviting Marcello Mastroianni to join her in the water from the famous film directed by Federico Fellini, La Dolce Vita, they are ready, willing and more than able to ruin your trip to Rome with a hefty fine, and who can blame them?

Trevi Fountain Coin Toss - Horse — Fountain Pegasus Statue

More Famous Fountains In Rome

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