What are the pieces thrown into the Trevi fountain in Rome? In addition to making a wish, throwing a room in the water will make you someone good!
The idea of throwing a room in a fountain and making a wish has become something trivial, but it is particularly romantic to do it to the Trevi Fountain Rome.
Indeed, it is a legend that pushes millions of tourists to throw a piece in the Trevi Fountain over their shoulders. But what do the parts become? You're sure that since the time, a mountain of pieces had been formed in the basin. You'll see where these pieces end, picked up several times a week by employees in the city...
By the way, why do we throw pieces in the Trevi Fountain in Rome?
Photo credit: Flickr – daisy.images
Legend comes from the film « La Fontaine des amours » (1954): throw a piece (the back turned in the basin) in the famous Trevi Fountain, considered the most beautiful baroque fountain in all of Italy, and you will be assured of visit Rome Again.
The legend goes even further than that and says that by throwing two pieces instead of one, you will make sure you find love and three, get married.
But where's the Trevi Fountain?
The Trevi Fountain has everything from a "catch-tourist" attraction, but millions of visitors flock every year to this place dating from the middle of the 18th century to participate in this tradition. In fact, the fountain fills so fast pieces that the employees of the city of Rome sweep the bottom of the basin every evening to collect the spoil of the day.
1.4 million euros collected each year in the famous fountain
During the year 2016, 1.4 million euros were collected and given to Caritas a Catholic charity that supports global causes related to health, disaster relief, poverty and migration.
Every day, 3835 € are thrown into the Trevi Fountain, or 26 923 € per week!
A well-framed routine at Trevi Fountain
Every morning, before the arrival of the tourists, the circulation of water is cut off. The fountain is cleaned with the brush and the pieces are gathered, using long perches, and harvested by aspiration, under police surveillance.
The pieces collected are cleaned, weighed, counted and delivered to Caritas. The organization uses money for many charitable initiatives: 27% of the sum charged is used to finance a free supermarket for families in difficulty, 32% for social inclusion programs, 8% for Caritas canteens and 31% for its reception facilities.
Before being sucked, the pieces are gathered in the center of Trevi Fountain – Photo credit: meridian.net
In 2005, 500,000 € per year were collected in the fountain. In 2016, this number almost tripled to €1.4 million. But money is not the only thing found in the fountain. Among the pieces, there are often other objects such as glasses, keychains, religious medallions and even dental prosthetics according to a member of the Caritas Association.
The pieces are then harvested and placed in bags under police surveillance – Photo credit: meridian.net
More info on the Trevi Fountain Originally designed by Nicola Salvi and completed in 1762 by Giuseppe Pannini, the Trevi Fountain took three decades to be built and measures 26 meters high over 50 meters wide. Its name comes from the three streets – _"very life"_in Italian – which lead to the fountain: Via Dei Crocicchi, Via Poli and Via Delle Muratte.
The fountain was renovated in 2015 for a sum of 2 million euros financed by the Italian fashion group Fendi. The LED lighting was added, and the marble façade, which represents the mythological figures of the Ocean, Abundance and Salubrity, was restored. Access to the Trevi Fountain is free of charge but if you plan to visit the other monuments of Rome such as the Colosseum, the Roman Forum or the Vatican, don’t hesitate to book online and in advance your visits to our site! This will allow you to avoid queues and save time during your stay in Rome. With dimensions of 20 meters wide and 26 meters high, the Trevi Fountain is also the largest fountain in Rome.
How do I go to the Trevi Fountain in Rome?
Located in the heart of the city on the Piazza di Trevi , close to the Pantheon and the Spanish square, you reach the Trevi fountain by Metro Barberini station or one of the many bus lines passing nearby (52, 62, 63, 71 80, 83, 116...)
Main photo credit: Flickr – Michael Matti
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