It’s no novel idea to toss a coin into a fountain and make a wish, but there’s something particularly romantic about doing so at the Trevi Fountain in Rome.
The legend comes from the 1950s Academy Award-winning film “Three Coins in the Fountain”: Throw a coin into the famed Fontana di Trevi, regarded as the most beautiful Baroque fountain in all of Italy, and you’ll one day return to visit Rome.
Toss in two more coins and you’ll be met with new romance and, eventually, a beautiful Roman wedding.
It may seem a silly tourist attraction, but millions of visitors flock to the 18th century landmark each year to partake in the tradition. In fact, the fountain fills up so quickly, Roman city workers sweep its floor every night to collect the day’s loot.
Throughout 2016 they collected $ 1.5 million, according to NBC News, which has long been sent to Caritas, a Catholic nonprofit that supports causes around the world related to health, disaster relief, ending poverty, and migration.
Keep reading to learn more about the fountain’s history, how the coins are collected, and what the money is used for.
Originally designed by Nicola Salvi and completed in 1762 by Giuseppe Pannini, the Trevi Fountain took three decades to build and measures 85 feet high by 165 feet wide. The name comes from the three streets — “tre vie,” in Italian — that lead to the fountain: Via Dei Crocicchi, Via Poli, and Via Delle Muratte.
Source: Walks of Italy
The fountain was recently given a $ 2.2 million makeover, funded by Italian fashion brand Fendi, that took 18 months to complete. LED lighting was added, and the marble facade, which depicts mythological figures Ocean, Health, and Abundance, was restored.
Source: Walks of Italy
Municipal workers scrub the floor of the fountain daily to collect visitors’ discarded coins, which averaged thousands of dollars a day in 2016.
Source: NBC News
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