The Trevi Fountain is a famous fountain located in Rome, Italy. It is one of the best known fountains in the world, and visitors from all over the world come to visit and toss coins into the fountain. The fountain and the earliest legends that surround it have a history that dates back to antiquity, although the current design of the landmark people are familiar with today was begun in 1629 and took until 1762 to complete. The Trevi Fountain also underwent renovations as recently as 1998. There are a couple of superstitions that are a part of this coin-throwing tradition. Originally, it was said that drinking fresh water from the Trevi waters, also known as the Virgin Waters, would lead to good fortune and would ensure that the drinker returned to Rome quickly. Eventually, the legend evolved into the belief that tossing a coin into the fountain would guarantee that the coin tosser would return to Rome.
A more modern tradition began with the 1954 movie, Three Coins in the Fountain, and the accompanying song with the same title. The legend holds that tossing three coins into the fountain will produce a boon for each coin. One ensures the coin tosser’s return to Rome. The next promises a new romantic relationship. The final coin is said to ensure marriage. There is a specific manner in which the coins must be tossed into the fountain in order to be effective. The coin tosser is supposed to hold the coin in his right hand and toss it over his left shoulder. This means that the person tossing the coin has to do so while facing away from the fountain.
This romantic tradition generates more than 3,000 Euros worth of coins every day, or more than $4,000 United States dollars. Attempts to rob the fountain of coins happen frequently. However, the fountain is shut down for an hour a day every day so that workers employed by the city can sweep all of the coins out of it, and the coins go to good use. A large amount of the money gathered from the Trevi fountain is given to Caritas, a Roman Catholic charity. Once the money is given to Caritas, they sort and clean the coins, and then use them to help the needy not only in Rome, but worldwide. They use some of the money to open and run a low-cost grocery store for the poor in the city of Rome. Trevi Fountain money funds similar food programs and social assistance programs in more than 200 countries around the world. That means that even if you’re not superstitious, throwing a coin into the Trevi Fountain is still a good idea; it’s a way of donating to the poor in any number of places.
Other blog posts that may interest you:
The Eternal City of Rome
Choosing an Italy Tour
