Fountain of Trevi

The front of the fountain, projected by Nicola Salvi, has in the middle a triumphal arch made by an order of four Corinthian columns that divide it into three niches. They are surmounted by a grandiose attic with two ladies (made by Paolo Benaglia) who hold the coat-of-arms of pope Clemente XII (1730-1740). Below it, a balustrade with four statues that represent the seasons.
The central niche, sustained by four Ionic columns, is dominated by the statue of Ocean (look at the below picture).
In the left niche there is the statue of the Abundance, and above it the high-relief representing emperor Agrippa who approves the project of the aqueduct (work realized by G.B. Grossi); in the right niche is collocated the statue of the healthiness, with the high-relief of the traditional young girl who shows the spring of the water to the soldiers (realized by A. Bergondi). Both the statues are made by F. Della Valle, and they symbolize the characteristics of the Virgin Water).
Artifice and nature are merged in the representation of the reef and of the petrified marine vegetation on the whole basis of the palace until the big basin with lifted borders, set at the level of the square, that represents the sea.

O v e r v i e w

T'invidio turista che arrivi,
t'imbevi de fori e de scavi,
poi tutto d'un colpo te trovi
fontana de Trevi ch'e tutta pe' te!

Arrivederci Roma

I envy you, tourist that arrive,
you fill yourself with Forum and excavations,
then all of a sudden you find
fountain of Trevi that is all for you!

From the cross of three roads (in Italian 'tre vie') takes the name one of the most interesting squares in Rome: Trevi's square. If we consider it alone, it would be a cute narrow square in the heart of Rome, down the Quirinale palace and behind the always crowded via del Corso.

But an amazing particular makes this square unique in Rome - probably in the world: what that would have been a normal front of a common noble building is in reality the background of an incredible and monumental fountain!

And as it often happens with the monuments of Rome, the fountain of Trevi couldn't miss to have its own legend and tradition: if you stand in front of the fountain by shoulders, and you throw a coin in the water, you will be joint to Rome.

Like a 'well of wishes', but in this case the wish is implied because everyone would express it: to make return to the Eternal City.

The photos around this column show the particulars of the fountain from different angles. Below each one a description will explain the history and the characteristics of the fountain.

THREE COINS IN THE FOUNTAIN
Sammy Cahn - Jule Styne

Three Coins in The Fountain,
Each one seeking happiness,
Thrown by three hopeful lovers,
Which one will the fountain bless?

Three hearts in the fountain,
Each heart longing for its home,
There they lie in the fountain
Somewhere in the heart of Rome.

Which one will the fountain bless?
Which one will the fountain bless?

Three Coins in The Fountain,
Through the ripples how they shine
Just one wish will be granted
One heart will wear a valentine.

Make it mine!
Make it mine!
Make it mine!

The marble is the main character of this fountain. Interesting is the rule that it assumes as wings of the central scene dominated by the group of Ocean: the rocks that emerge from the 'sea' (the water in the basin) cover the whole length of the palace where the fountain is leant, indeed, they are even over the corner of this building, almost like attracting the walkers - already made curios by the noise of the water that comes from who knows where (the fountain can be viewed only when arrived at the square).
And it astounds how the marble is worked to make it look like real reef: little shells and marine plants on the smooth surface of the blocks give right this impression.
Besides, the people who sit all around the fountain are also real characters of this monumental representation: first, because they are actually inside the monument; then, because they join themselves to the fountain and to the whole Rome, by that traditional and universally known gesture of throwing a little coin into this particular fountain - unique in the world - as it is the fountain of Trevi.

In the central niche is collocated the statue of Ocean, represented on a carriage shaped like a big shell and dragged by two winged horses (one is restless to symbolize the rough sea, while the other one is placid for the quiet sea); both the horses are led by tritons.

If it is not the most beautiful, without doubt the Trevi one is the most famous and scenographic fountain in Rome. The visitors are surprised and amazed to get into a narrow square from also narrow streets, and find then a whole side of a palace transformed in a majestic architecture, dominated by Ocean's statue, put in the middle of tritons and horses, among trees and rocks from where a spectacular cascade of water falls down with vigor.

Realized by Pietro Bracci
(from 1759 to 1762),
the statue of Ocean is
580 cm (19 feet) high.

Q. But...isn't it Neptune?
R. Well, not exactly. Although Neptune would be the most direct representation of the Sea, the label of this statue is Ocean.
This is because it couldn't have been used a god from the pagan religion in the ancient Rome to symbolize the Sea, especially since it was a Christian pope to order the building of the fountain. Besides, for the whole fountain is filled with allegorical elements, the personification of the sea is given by a 'neutral' statue that has nothing to do with whatever pagan god.

The water is brought to the fountain by the same aqueduct that the emperor Marco Vipsiano Agrippa built in 19 b.C to supply his thermal baths near the Pantheon and make more beautiful his gardens at the Campo Marzio. This water is named Virgin (Acqua Vergine) to pay homage to a young girl (virgo in Latin) who showed its spring (situated at only 22 Km - 14 miles from the city) to some thirsty Roman soldiers.
In 1453 pope Niccolò V wanted to repair the pipes of the aqueduct and built a very simple fountain to sign the point of arrival of the Virgin Water (this type of fountains is called mostra) and in 1629 pope Urbano VIII asked Gian Lorenzo Bernini to design a new project to make more beautiful the fountain. Although this plan was abandoned due to the death of the pope, Bernini left an important tray of his work, since he moved the fountain on the opposite side of the square (where it is placed now).

The fountain is built on the minor side of the Poli's Palace, and it measures 20 m (65 ft) in width and 26 m (85 ft) in height.
Completely realized in marble, it took 23 years to be completed (from 1739 to 1762), and it is an expression of the late Baroque style, with a clear inspiration from Bernini (especially for the elements of the Nature collocated with the mythological ones).

Ce sta 'na leggenda romana
legata a 'sta vecchia fontana,
per cui se ce butti un soldino
costringi er destino a fatte tornà!

Arrivederci Roma

There is a Roman legend
linked to this old fountain,
whereby if you throw a little coin in it
you force the destiny to make you return!

Photos taken with Kodak DC 3200 and edited with Paint Shop Pro by F.Franchi.
Web page created by F. Franchi with:
Best view at 800x600 and Microsoft Internet Explorer


Rate:		*Piazza di Trevi, Rome - ITALY*