The Trevi Fountain is the best attraction for those who are in love and lost, because it can help bring happiness to life. True, in order for the desires to come true, you will have to go to Rome. There is a very fascinating story about what prompted the Romans to create a beautiful composition of stone. In addition, many legends related to the largest fountain in Italy are retold.
The history of the Trevi Fountain
Since the beginning of the new era, on the site of the picturesque fountain there was nothing but a source of the purest water. As planned by the reigning emperor and his adviser in Rome, it was decided to clean the sewers and build a long aqueduct. The new aqueduct brought the purest water to the square, which is why the locals called it "Virgin's Water".
Until the 17th century, the source fed the Romans in an unchanged form, and only Pope Urban III decided to decorate a significant place with majestic sculptures. The project was worked out by Giovanni Lorenzo Bernini, who dreams of reconstructing the aqueduct into a beautiful fountain. Work began immediately after the approval of the sketches, but due to the death of Urban III, construction stopped.
Since the 18th century, the desire to create something outstanding in Trevi Square has revived again, but now Bernini's student Carlo Fontana has taken up the job. It was then that the sculptures of Neptune and his servants were completed and also decorated in the Baroque style with the addition of Classicism. In 1714 the building was left without a master, so a competition was announced for the role of a new architect.
Sixteen famous engineers responded to the proposal, but only Nicola Salvi managed to convince Pope Clement XII that he would be able not only to create the most amazing fountain in the country, but also organically fit it into the already existing architecture of the central square of the city. Thus, in 1762, the Fountain di Trevi appeared to the eye as the largest sculptural composition floating out of the water against the backdrop of the Poli Palace. This creation took exactly thirty years.
Features of the fountain
The main symbol of the sculptural composition is water, which is personified by the god Neptune. His figure is located in the center and is surrounded by maidens, youths and mythical animals. The lines are carved in stone so realistically that one gets the impression that a divine being with his retinue emerges from the depths of the sea, surrounded by palace architecture.
Among the main sculptures, two goddesses are also distinguished: Health and Abundance. They, like Neptune, took their places in the niches of the palace, meeting guests of Italy on the square. Moreover, since the advent of the aqueduct, the water flowing from the Trevi Fountain has been drinkable. On the right side there are lovers' tubes. Curious signs are often associated with them, so couples from all over the world crowd in this part of the sight.
At night, the famous composition is illuminated, but the lamps are located under the water, not over the sculptures. This gives the impression that the water surface is shining. This illusion adds mysticism to the place, and tourists stroll around the marine life even in the dark.
Not so long ago, the man-made reservoir was closed due to planned restoration. More than a hundred years have passed since the last reconstruction, which is why parts of the sculptures began to deteriorate. To preserve the amazing beauty of the 18th century, the fountain had to be closed for many months. Tourists who come to Rome could not see the beauty of the complex, but the restoration company allowed visitors to the city on specially designed scaffolding to look at Neptune from above.
Fountain traditions
There is always a huge number of tourists on Trevi Square, who, one after another, throw coins into the fountain. This is due not only to the desire to return to the city, but also to the existing tradition of the number of abandoned euros. According to the descriptions, one coin is enough to see the attraction again, but you can throw more: two euros promise a meeting with your soul mate, three - marriage, four - prosperity. This tradition has a beneficial effect on the revenues of the utilities that provide the Trevi Fountain. According to them, more than one hundred thousand euros are caught from the bottom every month.
The tubes already mentioned on the right are capable of giving real love nectar. There is a sign that drinking water will definitely help a couple to maintain love until old age. Often newlyweds come here to include the ceremony in the celebration.
We recommend looking at St. Peter's Cathedral.
In Rome, there is a rule that fountains are not turned off even in the cold season. In January 2017, an unusual drop in temperature occurred in this area. As a result, several fountains froze over in winter, which provoked a rupture of pipes and a temporary halt in their activities for the period of repair. The famous landmark of Trevi Square was shut down on time, which made it possible to keep it in full functionality.
How to get to the famous architectural monument
Most visitors to Rome first try to find out where the most beautiful source of fresh water is, but not to get drunk, but to look at the amazing composition of sculptures and take unforgettable photos. The address of the Trevi Fountain is easy to remember, as it is located on the square of the same name.
In order not to get lost in the city, it is better to go directly to the fountain, next to the metro. Better to choose the Barberini or Spagna stations, located as close as possible to the Poli Palace and the fountain flowing from it.
