The Trevi Fountain

July 21, 2010 - Trevi

The Trevi Fountain stands 85 feet high and 65 feet wide. It is the largest Baroque fountain in the city of Rome. The fountain at the junction of three roads (tre vie) marks the end point of the "modern" Acqua Vergine, the revived Aqua Virgo, one of the ancient aqueducts that supplied water to ancient Rome.

In 19 BC, supposedly with the help of a virgin, Roman technicians located a source of pure water 8 miles from the city. The scene is presented on the present fountain's facade. The aqueduct was 14 miles long and ended into the Baths of Agrippa. It served Rome for more than four hundred years. A traditional legend holds that if visitors throw a coin into the fountain, they are ensured a return to Rome. Current interpretation is that two coins will lead to a new romance and three will ensure either a marriage or divorce. Another version of this legend is that it is lucky to throw three coins with one's right hand over one's left shoulder into the Trevi Fountain. That is what we each did.

An estimated 3,000 euros are thrown into the fountain each day.The money has been used to subsidize a supermarket for Rome's needy. People regularly attempt to steal coins from the fountain.The Trevi fountain is featured in Federico Fellini's film La Dolce Vita starring Anita Ekberg and Marcello Mastroianni. The fountain was turned off and draped in black in honor of Mastroianni after the actor's death in 1996. We watched a guy propose to his girlfriend in front of the fountain. The place is crawling with lovers. Part of the fountain is replicated at the Italy Pavilion at Epcot in Disney World.

Speaking of Disney... Izzy feels that most of the people visiting the sites in Italy are only there to check it off their vacation list - "Check, got that photo. Check, got me in front of that famous thing. Check, here's me with Cinderella. Check, here's me with the Venus de Milo," and that most people have no idea what they are even looking at let alone the level of artistry in what they are witnessing. She was so disappointed in the amount of garbage and trash that was strewn around the fountain; the level of disrespect, the lack of reverence - it made her cry. Sooooooo, being the sometimes smart mother that I can be...

I woke Izzy up early before we left for our Rome tour. The fountain was completely abandoned. Not a soul in site except security. The entire area had been cleaned up and was awaiting the next disrespectful crowd, but for a few moments we had it to ourselves and it was lovely. We took photos and just sat and wondered at the awesomeness that is the Trevi Fountain. What a special memory with a supremely special girl.