Fontana di Trevi, Rome, Visitor Guide & Things to Do Nearby

The Trevi Fountain is the largest Baroque fountain in Rome and one of the most famous fountains in the world. Tucked into the corner of a narrow square, it takes most visitors by surprise when they first turn the corner and see it.

The fountain was completed in 1762 after 30 years of work, designed by Nicola Salvi and built against the rear wall of the Palazzo Poli. It marks the terminal point of one of ancient Rome's aqueducts, the Acqua Vergine, which has been bringing water to this spot since 19 BC.

The central figure is Neptune, riding a shell-shaped chariot pulled by two sea horses, one calm and one wild, representing the changing moods of the sea. The fountain is 26 metres high and 49 metres wide, making it almost as tall as the building behind it.

The coin-tossing tradition was popularized by the 1954 film "Three Coins in the Fountain." Legend says throwing one coin ensures your return to Rome, two coins means you'll find love, and three means you'll marry. The fountain collects an estimated 3,000 euros per day in coins, all of which goes to Caritas, a Catholic charity feeding Rome's poor.

The fountain underwent a major restoration from 2014 to 2016, funded by the fashion house Fendi.

If you're on a Questo quest through Rome's historic centre, the Trevi Fountain is a stop where 2,000 years of engineering meets Baroque drama, and where a coin toss might just bring you back.