Trevi Fountain

The Trevi Fountain stands at the terminal point of the ancient Aqua Virgo aqueduct, which was constructed in 19 BC by Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa to supply water to the thermal baths near the Pantheon. The name 'Trevi' is derived from 'Tre Vie' or three roads, as the fountain is situated at the junction of three paths. For centuries, a simple basin stood at the site before it was transformed into the theatrical Baroque monument we admire today. In 1730, Pope Clement XII organized a competition to design a new fountain to replace the existing structure. Although the architect Alessandro Galilei originally won the contest, the public outcry over a Florentine winning a Roman commission led to the project being awarded to the local architect Nicola Salvi. Construction began in 1732, utilizing the stunning white travertine stone sourced from nearby Tivoli, but Salvi died before the project was finished, and it was eventually completed by Giuseppe Pannini in 1762. The fountain's central theme is the Taming of the Waters, featuring a massive depiction of Oceanus, the god of the sea, riding a shell-shaped chariot pulled by two sea horses representing the varying moods of the ocean. Flanking the central figure are statues representing Abundance and Salubrity, while the entire facade is integrated into the rear of the Palazzo Poli. The fountain underwent a major restoration in 2015, funded by the fashion house Fendi, which restored the brilliance of its intricate sculptures and the clarity of its cascading waters.