Trevi Fountain

About Trevi Fountain

The Trevi Fountain is the largest Baroque fountain in Rome and one of the most recognisable in the world. Finished in 1762 to a design by Nicola Salvi, it stands against the back wall of Palazzo Poli, a facade of columns and rockwork that fills one whole side of a small square. At the centre is Oceanus riding a shell-shaped chariot pulled by two sea horses, one calm and one restless, guided by tritons. The fountain marks the end point of the Acqua Vergine, an aqueduct that has carried water into the city since Roman times.

The tradition most people come for is the coin toss. You stand with your back to the water and throw a coin over your right shoulder, the idea being that it guarantees a return trip to Rome. The coins are collected regularly and donated to charity. Because the fountain sits in a compact square hemmed in by narrow streets, it gets very crowded, especially in the middle of the day and on warm evenings. Early morning is the quietest time by a wide margin, and the lit fountain after dark is worth seeing if you don't mind the crowds.

There is no entry fee and no ticket, since the fountain is a public monument in an open piazza rather than an enclosed site. That makes it easy to fit into a wider walk through the centre of Rome. It sits within a short stroll of the Spanish Steps and the Pantheon, so most people see all three together on foot. Pickpockets work the busiest spots here, so keep bags closed and phones secure while you're taking photos.