The Trevi Fountain is one of the biggest fountains in Rome and undoubtedly the most famous, as icon of the Dolce Vita celebrated by Federico Fellini. It is an amazing mix of classic and baroque elements that sticks out from a façade of the Palazzo Poli, seat to the Istituto Nazionale per la Grafica (National Institute of Graphics).

Its construction dates back to the 18th century, even though the ancient acquedotto Vergine (Virgin aqueduct) it is built upon dates back to the 1st century BC, when it was created by Marco Vipsanio Agrippa to supply the thermal baths at the Pantheon. The modern fountain that visitors can admire today comes from a series of interventions: the aqueduct’s water reclaim in the 16th century, Bernini’s restoration in 1640 and, at last, Nicola Salvi’s skills, the true father of this work of art, who won the competition organized by Pope Clement X.

The Trevi Fountain is 20 metre large and as many as 26 high. The main theme of the complex is the sea. The central part is shaped as a triumphal arch and presents a niche with 4 Corinthian columns. Right at the centre there is the statue of Oceanus by Giovan Battista Maini and Pietro Bracci, that portrays this god on a shell chariot, guided by tritons and hippocampi. The lateral niches, instead, host the Abundance and Salubrity statues, created by Filippo della Valle.

The Salubrity statue is the portrait of the Virgin (after whom the aqueduct takes its name), who showed the Romans where the spring was. Another remarkable aspect of this monument is the carved cliff: it makes the fountain seem an integral part of the surrounding architectural elements and the water jets look like little waterfalls.

The fountain is particularly renowned also because of the popular tradition of throwing a coin into its water, with your back turned at the fountain: in so doing, you are ensured a return to Rome, a legend holds. The money collected at the end of each day are given to Caritas, a charity organization. Underneath the fountain there is a unique “water city”, an outstanding archaeological vestige discovered in 1990s and recently opened to visitors.