Trevi Fountain Facts & Worksheets

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The Trevi Fountain, also known as Fontana di Trevi in Italian, is an iconic landmark in Rome, Italy. Designed by Nicola Salvi, this Baroque masterpiece was constructed between 1732 and 1766 under the direction of Giuseppe Pannini and others. Standing at an impressive 26.3 meters (86 feet) tall and 49.15 meters (161.3 feet) wide, it holds the title of Rome’s largest Baroque fountain and ranks among the world’s most renowned fountains.

See the fact file below for more information about the Trevi Fountain, or you can download our 32-page Trevi Fountain worksheet pack to utilize within the classroom or home environment.

Key Facts & Information

HISTORY OF CONSTRUCTION

• There are several hypotheses about the name of the Trevi Fountain:
• It comes from a place named “Trebium” east of Rome, the spring site that supplied the aqueduct that carried water to this region in the Middle Ages.
• The Trevi Fountain’s name is thought to originate from the Latin word “trivium,” which means “three roads,” as it is situated at the convergence of three streets: Via Poli, Via dei Crociferi, and Via delle Muratte to the north and west, and Via delle Muratte to the south. 
• Alternatively, it could be named after the three ancient Roman roads—Via Collatina, Via Tiburtina, and Via Nomentana—that the Aqua Vergine aqueduct traverses.
• Amidst the Gothic War (535 – 554 CE), during the sixth century, the 11 aqueducts supplying Rome faced disruption. As King Vitiges of the Ostrogoths laid siege to Rome in 537 CE, he ordered the aqueducts to be cut off, aiming to deprive the city of its vital water supply. 
• Alternatively, Belisarius, the Byzantine general defending Rome, may have strategically bricked up the aqueducts’ channels to prevent the enemy from exploiting them as infiltration routes, a tactic he had successfully employed in the conquest of Naples the previous year.
• After the siege, some aqueducts were repaired, but by the ninth century, those that remained operational had deteriorated due to a lack of maintenance funding. The Romans went back to using water from the river, wells, and local springs.
• Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa, a close confidante, friend, son-in-law, and lieutenant of Emperor Octavian Augustus, completed the first Aqua Virgo Antica aqueduct (Aqua Virgo in Latin) in 19 BCE. 
• Its name roughly translates to “Virgin Water” since tradition has it that Agrippa’s soldiers were hunting for suitable spring waters to supply the aqueduct; a local girl guided them to a pristine and uncontaminated source.
• It is still flowing today. The aqueduct’s low calcium concentration presumably helped keep its channels free of mineral deposits, allowing it to be used for extended periods. 
• Nonetheless, frequent maintenance was required, and its waters had to be shut off multiple times for these critical operations.
• The water for this aqueduct comes from a series of natural springs that supply the river Aniene, a significant tributary of the Tiber, 10 kilometers east of Rome (in the neighborhood of “Salone”). 
• Despite its proximity to this source, the aqueduct is 22 kilometers long because it takes an alternate path to maintain a continuous mild slope as it approaches Rome. 
• It is still flowing today. The aqueduct’s low calcium concentration presumably helped keep its channels free of mineral deposits, allowing it to be used for extended periods. 
• Nonetheless, frequent maintenance was required, and its waters had to be shut off multiple times for these critical operations.
• The water for this aqueduct comes from a series of natural springs that supply the river Aniene, a significant tributary of the Tiber, 10 kilometers east of Rome (in the neighborhood of “Salone”). 
• Initially constructed to supply the Baths of Agrippa, Rome’s first public baths, the Aqua Virgo aqueduct served this purpose in this area.
• Beside the baths lay a vast artificial lake, designed for the enjoyment of bathers. The spent water from the baths flowed westward into the Tiber River.
• Due to water pollution over its route, a contemporary pressured counterpart of the aqueduct, the Acqua Vergine Nuova, which is still fully working, was built in the 1930s to supply safe drinking water.
• Because of the greater hydraulic pressure, it runs straight until it reaches Rome, resulting in a substantially shorter overall length of 13 kilometers. 
• The original Aqua Virgo and its sister aqueduct’s branches still supply water to various fountains in Rome’s center today, including those in Piazza del Popolo, Piazza Mattei, and the Fontana del Nicchione on Via dei Fori Imperiali.

The Middle Ages

• The Aqua Virgo was restored and renovated several times after the sixth century, including an intervention by Pope Hadrian I in the eighth century. 
• It ceased to supply the Baths of Agrippa and, according to specific historical accounts, terminated with a little fountain near the current location of the Trevi Fountain.
• Because the other aqueducts no longer ran, wells were built to give water to the population throughout the early Middle Ages, and many antique monumental fountains were disassembled to utilize their materials.
• Fountains during the period were simple basins supplied by local springs. These fountains were often located near churches so that they could be used for religious ceremonies and festivals. One example is the fountain of the Basilica of Santa Cecilia in Trastevere.
• In the wake of the Pope’s return to Rome from Avignon during the late Middle Ages and Renaissance, several notable fountains were commissioned and constructed. Among these, the Trevi Fountain and the fountain of Saint Peter’s Basilica stand out as particularly significant landmarks.

The Fifteenth and Sixteenth Centuries

• The Trevi Fountain was initially shown in a drawing in 1410 when it comprised three basins side by side into which water burst from three spouts. 
• In 1453, Pope Nicholas V embarked on an ambitious project to revitalize the city of Rome. As part of this initiative, he commissioned the renowned sculptor and architect Bernardo Rossellino and the esteemed humanist architect and intellectual Leon Battista Alberti to renovate an existing fountain. The three existing pools were transformed into a unified rectangular basin positioned in front of a towering crenelated wall adorned with three water spouts.
• Above the inscription, the papal coat of arms proudly adorned the wall, signifying the authority and significance of the message it bore. The inscription, crafted in elegant Latin, chronicled the noble act of Pope Nicholas V, who, in 1453, embarked on a mission to revitalize the city of Rome. 
• With unwavering dedication, he meticulously restored the Acqua Vergine aqueduct, rescuing it from its dilapidated state and restoring its vital flow of water. This act of restoration exemplified the Pope’s commitment to preserving Rome’s rich heritage and ensuring its continued prosperity.
• In his treatise “De re aedificatoria” (“On the Art of Building”), presented to Pope Nicholas V in 1452, the Italian architect Leon Battista Alberti underscored the importance of a well-functioning water system in Rome. 
• He advocated for the allocation of the best water to public fountains, ensuring that the city’s inhabitants had access to clean and abundant drinking water.
• Pope Pius V completed another significant renovation of the whole Acqua Vergine aqueduct in 1570.
• Bernini’s arch-rival, architect Francesco Borromini, appeared to be in line for the project, but Bernini was subsequently chosen. It was finished in 1651 and is known as the Fountain of the Four Rivers.

The Eighteenth Century

• The construction of the Trevi Fountain was preceded by a series of competitions held in the early 18th century, during the era of Late Baroque or Rococo art and architecture. Several notable sculptors and architects participated, including Italians Ferdinando Fuga, Luigi Vanvitelli, and Nicola Michetti, as well as French sculptor Edmé Bouchardon.
• Carlo Fontana proposed an obelisk above a rocky base (influenced by Bernini’s Fountain of the Four Rivers). In contrast, Borromini’s nephew, Bernardo Castelli, proposed a column topped by a spiral ramp.
• Work on the Trevi Fountain was halted under the pontificate of Innocent XIII (1721-24), whose family, the Conti, dukes of Poli, had lately purchased some properties in the area to erect a huge residence. A massive, colossal fountain would have been detrimental to the freshly constructed Palazzo Poli.
• However, the abandoned idea to build a new Trevi Fountain was quickly resurrected, and Pope Clement XII conducted another competition in 1730. 

The Seventeenth Century 

• The initial selection of Florentine architect Alessandro Galilei to design the Trevi Fountain sparked controversy among Rome’s citizens, who resented the idea of a “foreigner” undertaking such a prestigious project. 
• This public outcry led to Galilei’s replacement with Nicola Salvi, a native Roman architect in his early thirties. Salvi’s scenographic and harmonious design plan required the demolition of the central section of Palazzo Poli to accommodate the fountain’s expansive central statuary group. 
• This alteration reflected the strong sense of regional pride and preference for local talent prevalent at the time.
• The terrified Conti family protested the partial destruction of their new palace. Still, the Pope ordered demolition, and work began in 1732.

Nicola Salvi’s Project

• The Trevi Fountain as we know it now closely resembles Nicola Salvi’s initial design. Water rushes into a vast shallow basin via a succession of rocky travertine stone rocks inhabited by carved allegorical characters. Palazzo Poli serves as an imposing and majestic background.

Three different popes have inaugurated the fountain:

• Pope Clement XII first laid eyes on the Trevi Fountain in 1735, a time marked by discord between its architect, Nicola Salvi, and the leading sculptor, Giovanni Battista Maini. 

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION

• The structure is made up of three main components:
  • a rectangular bowl
  • Statues of Carrara marble (Tuscany) standing atop cliffs of white travertine stone
  • Palazzo Poli’s travertine stone façade
• The maximum height of the façade: 26.30 m
• The façade’s total width: 49.15 m
• The rocky cliffs stretch to the top of Palazzo Poli’s bottom level. There is a big center niche with a curving semi-dome reaching the second-floor level and two smaller square niches on either side. Four enormous Corinthian columns divide these niches.

The Statue of Oceanus(Neptune)

• The colossal statue of Oceanus sits in front of the central niche, flanked by columns with Ionic capitals (complete with scrolls and hanging garlands). This is the fountain’s main statue, sculpted by Pietro Bracci, based on Giovanni Battista Maini’s initial design.
• The god of the sea is 5.8 meters tall. He is shown in a powerful yet graceful position, displaying his strong figure while riding like a surfer on an incredibly curved wave. This sculptor’s tour de force has an almost abstract air to it. 
• It reminds us of Bernini’s persistent attempts to sculpt the “unsculptable” by expressing moving elements in solid form, such as clouds, fire, and flowing water.
• The wave resembles a massive clamshell, similar to the one Venus rides in Botticelli’s renowned artwork. It appears to be a chariot drawn by two water horses in the Trevi Fountain. 
• Unlike portrayals of the sea gods Poseidon or Neptune, who generally carry a trident and ride a chariot drawn by dolphins or sea horses, Oceanus bears a short baton of command, similar to those used by Roman emperors in ancient sculptures.
• Perhaps he is telling the seas to be silent, like in Virgil’s epic poem The Aeneid, where he calms the winds and waves with the words quos ego («Those whom I») (Book 1, line 135).

The Water Horses

• The winged water horses (or hippocampus, to give these animals from Roman and Greek mythology their true names) had a horse’s upper body, a fish’s bottom body, and an unusual leafy tail. 
• They symbolize the many sea conditions, which might be stormy or tranquil. The triton or merman on the left is struggling to control his restless hippocamp, which rears up like an untamed and turbulent sea.
• The triton on the right blows into a conch shell and leads a more docile beast that signifies a calm ocean. As a result, the one on the left is known as “agitato” (restless), while the one on the right is known as “placido” (calm).

The Lateral Niches

• Two sculptures by the Florentine late-Baroque artist Filippo della Valle may be seen in the two niches on the flanks. 
• Left niche: Salubritas (Health), personified as a young woman holding a snake-entwined staff and a cup.
• Right niche: Felicitas (Happiness), depicted as a young woman adorned with flowers and holding a cornucopia overflowing with fruits and grains.
• The first female figure symbolizes richness, prosperity, and fertility. It is symbolized in Roman mythology by the carrier of the cornucopia, a magical horn from which food and money flow abundantly. Water drips from a jar at her feet.
• The daughter of the deity of medicine, Aesculapius, the goddess of Health, cleanliness, and sanitation, is the second female figure. 
• Her Greek name is Hygieia, from which the term “hygiene” derives. 
• She embodies the beneficial properties of the Acqua Vergine aqueduct’s clean waters, which were low in lime.
• Two bas-reliefs are located over these niches.
• Giovanni Battista Grossi created the one on the left, and depicts Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa, dressed in full military attire and accompanied by troops, inspecting designs for the original Acqua Vergine aqueduct. 
• Workers may be seen perilously clambering on the aqueduct arches in the backdrop. The second bas-relief carries Andrea Bergondi’s autograph. 
• It depicts the virgin being pursued by a squad of soldiers pointing to the ground where a natural spring water runs onto the land. One of the soldiers bends down to fill a cup with water.

TRADITION

• The time-honored tradition of tossing a coin into Rome’s Trevi Fountain is a well-known custom recognized worldwide. This practice has gained widespread popularity through various songs and films, including the renowned “Three Coins in a Fountain.” No traveler who considers themselves well-versed in the world’s cultures should miss out on the opportunity to partake in this beautiful tradition.
• The similarly romantic (but riskier) custom of the glass of water is less well-known.
• If you visit Rome, tradition has it that you must toss a coin into the center basin with your back to the fountain, tossing it with your right hand over your left shoulder. 
• You will undoubtedly return to Rome if you can turn around quickly enough to witness the coin plunge into the ocean.

The Trevi Fountain Toss Coin

• This ritual stems from the ancient Roman practice of tossing money into the water, hoping the gods would protect them. At the same time, they traveled across the sea and assisted them in safely returning home. 
• A variation of this tale, which inspired the film Three Coins in a Fountain, states that if you toss three coins into the fountain at the same time, the following three things will occur:
  • you will return to Rome
  • you will get married
  • you will meet the love of your life

The Glass of Water

• Due to the poor quality of the regularly recycled water, this ritual is no longer practiced and is hardly recognized today. 
• Previously, if a girl’s partner had to leave the city for business or military duty, she would force him to drink water from the fountain from a fresh glass, which she would smash. 
• This magical rite was meant to assure his lifelong faithfulness, even while he was far away.

The Little Fountain of Lovers

• A safer alternative to drinking from the main Trevi Fountain is now available to avoid the risk of gastrointestinal issues. Couples can instead share a drink from the “Little Fountain of Lovers,” which is discreetly located to the right of the monument beneath the asso di coppe (ace of cups), an urn-like structure that rests on the railing along the adjacent road.
• This little fountain contains two drinking water jets; by using it, a couple may ensure they will always be true to one another.

What happens to the coins?

• During peak season, around 3,000 Euros are tossed into the fountain daily. The coins are pulled out at dawn every day and night and delivered to an Italian charity named Caritas, which uses the money to support a voucher program for Rome’s needy and impoverished to purchase grocery supplies. 
• Taking money from the fountain is now banned, although criminals used to do so at night.
• Roberto Cercelletta, better known as d’Artagnan, the fourth musketeer, was the most famous and elusive. 
• For 34 years, he stole money from the fountain with a rake and a magnet while the cops stood by and did nothing. He was caught red-handed in 2002 after the media claimed he received up to a thousand Euros per night. 
• Despite the allegations against him, no legal grounds were ever found to bring criminal charges against him when the matter reached court.

Trevi Fountain Worksheets

This fantastic bundle includes everything you need to know about the Trevi Fountain across 32 in-depth pages. These ready-to-use worksheets are perfect for teaching kids about the Trevi Fountain. The Trevi Fountain, also known as Fontana di Trevi in Italian, is an iconic landmark in Rome, Italy. Designed by Nicola Salvi, this Baroque masterpiece was constructed between 1732 and 1766 under the direction of Giuseppe Pannini and others.

Complete List of Included Worksheets

Below is a list of all the worksheets included in this document.

1. Trevi Fountain Facts
2. Coin Tradition
3. Fun Facts
4. New Language
5. Parts of the Fountain
6. In Other Side
7. The Articulates
8. Tourist Attractions
9. Fontana Di Trevi
10. Postcards
11. Redesigned

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Trevi Fountain?

The Trevi Fountain is a famous fountain located in the Trevi district of Rome, Italy. It is the largest Baroque fountain in the city and one of the most iconic fountains in the world. The fountain stands at the junction of three roads (tre vie), giving it its name.

When was the Trevi Fountain built?

Construction of the Trevi Fountain began in 1732 under the direction of architect Nicola Salvi. However, after Salvi’s death in 1751, the project was completed by Giuseppe Pannini in 1762.

What is the significance of the sculptures in the Trevi Fountain?

The fountain is adorned with various sculptures and reliefs that depict mythological figures and motifs. The central figure is Neptune, the Roman god of the sea, riding a chariot shaped like a shell, pulled by seahorses. Other sculptures represent Abundance and Salubrity. These intricate sculptures contribute to the overall grandeur and symbolism of the fountain.

Why is it traditional to throw coins into the Trevi Fountain?

It is a tradition for visitors to throw a coin over their left shoulder with their right hand into the Trevi Fountain. Legend has it that if you do this, you ensure a return trip to Rome. The tradition began with the 1954 film “Three Coins in the Fountain,” and since then, many people have adopted the practice, believing it brings good luck and ensures a future visit to the Eternal City.

How much money is thrown into the Trevi Fountain each day?

It’s challenging to determine an exact amount, but it’s estimated that thousands of euros are thrown into the Trevi Fountain each day. The coins collected from the fountain are regularly used for charitable purposes. The city of Rome has set up a fund called “Caritas” to collect and distribute the money to help those in need.

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Link will appear as Trevi Fountain Facts & Worksheets: https://kidskonnect.com - KidsKonnect, February 14, 2024