The Trevi Fountain is arguably the most famous fountain in the world and one of the most visited sites in Rome with over 10,000 people a day visiting it and soon you will have to pay an entrance fee to see it! But more on that shortly.
The name Trevi derives from the Latin word trivium or tre vie meaning ‘intersection of three roads’ and it finished construction after 30 years in 1762. It is 26 metres / 86 feet high and 49 metres / 161 feet wide and spills out over 10 million litres of water a day, recycled via two electric pumps that recycle 126 litres / 33 gallons per second. Because the water is recycled it is one of the few fountains in Rome you cannot drink from.
The fountain marks the end point of the famous Acqua Vergine which is a Roman aqueduct dating back more than 2,000 years to the age of Julius Ceasar who founded the Roman Empire.
Incredibly this aqueduct is still in operation today flowing more than 13 miles underground at depths of up to 40 metres feeding many fountains in the city including the Fontana della Barcaccia at the Spanish Steps.
The fountain depicts Oceanus, the god of all water, in a scene of intricately carved mythological figures reflecting Rome’s historical connection with water.
What is the meaning behind throwing a coin into the water?
Tourists have for decades been throwing coins into the fountain and the popular tradition believes; if you throw one coin you will return to Rome, if you throw two coins you will fall in love with an attractive Italian and if you throw three coins you will marry the person you have met!
There is also a special way that you must throw the coin in, standing with your back to the fountain and throwing the coin over your left shoulder with your right hand.
How much money is collected from the fountain every year?
Nearly €1.5 million Euros worth of coins are thrown into the fountain every year!
A couple of times a year a team, under the watchful eye of the local Police, use brushes on the end of long poles to sweep the coins into piles and then use a suction hose to extract the money from the water.
The money is given to a Catholic charity, Caritas that helps the city’s poor to support various programs, including food banks, soup kitchen and welfare projects.
Can you go in the water?
No, definitely not! There are Police around the fountain and will use whistles and shout at you if you get too close to the fountain let alone touch the water in it. A New Zealand tourist was recently given a €900 fine and lifetime ban from visiting the fountain after jumping in it!
Is the Trevi Fountain free to visit?
Currently yes, however it has recently undergone a major renovation, completed in 2025 and there are plans to bring in a £1.70 / €2 / $2.30 charge to see the Trevi Fountain but this is not in place yet.
Is there a queuing system to see the Trevi Fountain?
Yes, this was introduced in December 2024 due to the volume of tourists wanting to visit the fountain and to control numbers and movement. It limits the number of visitors allowed at the fountain to 400 at any one time.
There are times that the queuing system is in place though:
- Every day 9am to 9pm
- Every Monday the fountain is cleaned and access is only permitted between 2pm and 9pm
Outside of these hours you can visit and go down to the fountain at any time.
When is the best time to visit the Trevi Fountain?
The best time to visit the fountain is early morning and late at night. Before 9am and after 9pm you can avoid the queuing system and there will be a lot less tourists around.
