Trevi Fountain, Rome, Italy

The name of this fountain comes from it standing in the intersection of three roads (Tre Vie in Italian) and it is one of the oldest water sources in Rome. It was at the end of one of the oldest aqueducts of the city, the Acqua Virgine, built in 19 BC. The aqueduct supplied water to Rome for more than 400 years until it was destroyed during the Gothic Wars of the 6th century.
In 1629 Pope Urban VII decided that the fountain was too plain and commissioned Bernini to design a new one. However, when the Pope died the project was abandoned. It was only in 1730 that Pope Clement XII organized a contest to build a new fountain; it was concluded in 1762 and was designed by Nicola Salvi. Although the final project wasn't Bernini's, it included many of his ideas. The most recent restoration was carried out in 2015.
Today the fountain is a major tourist attraction which means it can get uncomfortably crowded for most of the day.
As tradition goes, throwing a coin over your left shoulder into the fountain ensures a return to Rome. This tradition provides about €3000 per day to Caritas, an Italian charity. However, don't be tempted to take a coin from the fountain as it is a crime to do so.








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