At the end of December last year, the famous Trevi Fountain in Rome reopened its doors after a restoration that took several months.
The Trevi Fountain was built in the 18th century by the Italian architect Nicola Salvi on the facade of the Poli Palace, and currently after the Roman Colosseum, one of the New 7 Wonders of the World, the historic fountain is one of the most visited places in the city.
Between 10,000 and 12,000 tourists used to visit the Trevi Fountain every day, but after the restoration, the Italian capital installed a new queue system to prevent large crowds from accumulating near the monument.
Since its reopening, access is assured to a maximum number of about 400 people at a time and is made from the central staircase, while the exit is made through the door located on the side of Via dei Crociferi.
Visits are regulated as follows: every day from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. (last access at 8:30 p.m.); Mondays and Fridays from 12:00 p.m. to allow coin collection operations; alternate Mondays from 2:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. for emptying and cleaning the tank. Free access from 21.00 hours.
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The Trevi Fountain, the final place of the Vergine aqueduct, the only one of the ancient aqueducts in continuous use to this day, is the most famous of the Roman fountains.
Its name derives from a toponym used in the area since the mid-12th century, Regio Trivii, in reference to the confluence of three streets in the square, or the triple exit of water from the original source.
The construction of the current Trevi Fountain is due to Pope Clement XII who, in 1732, launched a contest in which the main artists of the time participated. Among the various projects presented, that of the architect Nicola Salvi was chosen.
Supported by the Palazzo Poli, the fountain is developed in a large basin with the representation of a wide cliff animated by the sculptural representation of numerous plants and the spectacular flow of water. In the center dominates the statue of Ocean driving the shell-shaped chariot pulled by an angry horse and a placid horse and held by two newts.
On the facade, articulated as a triumphal arch, there are two reliefs that allude to the legend of the fountain and the history of the aqueduct: on the right, the virgin indicating the fountain to the Roman soldiers and, on the left, Agrippa who orders the beginning of the construction of the aqueduct. The decorative apparatus is completed with two allegorical figures that enhance the beneficial effects of water, Health and Abundance, placed in the lateral niches.
The construction was completed by Giuseppe Pannini, who partially modified the cliff by regularizing the central basins. After a restoration in the years 1989-1991, the last major restoration took place in 2014, thanks to the financial contribution of the Fendi Fashion House. And in 2024 new enhancement work was carried out.