News from Italy
The mysterious Trevi Fountain has been flowing for nearly 300 years
by Andira Vitale
A Baroque Masterpiece, Fontana di Trevi is an ageless, charming and mysterious beauty of the immortal city of Rome. If you have been to the Trevi Fountain, you probably understand how beautiful and impressive it is. And those who pay attention to Baroque costumes know that it is full of mysteries… Fontana di Trevi has quite a fascinating and colourful history.
Rome is famous for ancient remnants and artistic architecture, but Trevi Fountain is arguably one of the most impressive landmarks in the entire city. This stunning water feature attracts millions of visitors annually, featuring beautifully carved stonework and gushing water. It is a beautiful structure and a historical monument, as it is the oldest water source in Rome. The ancient structure provided water to both ancient baths and central city fountains. It has appeared in many famous films, including Roman Holiday and Three Coins in the Fountain. The most popular movie by far was La Dolce Vita, which immortalised the fountain at the time of the film’s debut. The iconic black and white scene is done in 1960, depicting two characters wading into the Trevi Fountain, resulting in the fountain’s upsurge in popularity. In the movie, a voluptuous Anita Ekberg wades through its pristine waters – her hopelessly infatuated male co-star in her wake – in what critics say is one of the enduring cinematic images of the 20th Century.
Tre-via or Trevi
Trevi is located in Piazza di Trevi, very close to the Trevi transformation, Via Del Corso, in the historical centre of Rome. The fountain is outdoors, and it is a facade of Palazzo Poli and a museum that houses engravings and other important artefacts. The initial public offering is the name “Trevi”, derived from “Trebium”, the proven local region not minted in Tiburtina. The second IPO was derived from a “junk” event that valued Collatina, Prenestina and Tiburtina much worse than the original. By Autumn, the ninja call during the event and begin a temporary recreation called “Trevi”. But the real is that the word “Trevi” refers to the small piazza it sits in and the three roads that meet in that piazza. The number three in Italian is “true”, and road/street is “via”. Tre-via or Trevi. Fontana di Trevi, or fountain of three roads. According to legend, the water source was discovered in 19 BC by thirsty Roman soldiers directed to the site by a young virgin, which is why it is called Virgin Waters. As with every great piece of art, Trevi Fountain tells a story, and each statue is symbolic of a unique and exciting concept.
The Trevi Fountain is a truly monumental work that is contemplated by millions of tourists every year. The central part develops like a triumphal arch with a large niche and Corinthian side columns. At the top centre is an inscription, “CLEMENS XII PONT MAX,” which reminds us that Clement XII commissioned the construction. Furthermore, four statues from 1735 adorn the great work. Starting from the left, they symbolise Agostino Corsini’s Abundance of Fruits, Bernardo Ludovisi’s Fertility of the Fields, Francesco Queirolo’s Gifts of Autumn, and Bartolomeo Pincellotti’s Amenity of the Meadows. In the deep central niche is the statue of Ocean positioned on top of a large shell pulled by two winged sea horses, one rabid and the other peaceful, led by a young triton and an adult, to highlight the different characteristics of man’s age and nature. Finally, the lateral parts of the niche leave room for the statues of Healthiness and Abundance by Filippo Della Valle, and the reliefs represent the Virgin showing the spring to the soldiers by Grossi.
Oceanus, God of the Sea
When we first look at the fountain, we see a muscular, bearded and robust man in the centre. This is Oceananus, the god of the oceans. Standing under the arch at the centre of Trevi Fountain, Oceanus and his chariot are being pulled by two sea horses. Oceanus is the central statue, and he controls the sea. You can see Oceanus in the fountain’s centre, riding a shell, like any good god of the sea, and accompanied by two Tritons. Oceanus rides on a chariot shaped like a seashell, pulled by horses and Tritons. Triton is among the gods living in the sea. He lives in his golden palace at the bottom of the sea. He also usually has a conch, which he blows like a trumpet. The Oceanus’s right represents the harshness or roughness of the sea. To Oceanus’s left, you can see the calmness and tranquillity of the ocean. These figures represent the power of the sea and the flow of water from the fountain into the wide streets of the city of Rome.
Statues of Abundance of Health & Fruits
To the direct left and right of Oceanus, you will see two statues of women. Both statues represent the abundance that water brings. Aqueducts brought more clean water than the Romans would ever need, allowing them to grow crops and fruit, which was a luxury, and keep good health. Both statues were status symbols for Romans, along with the fountain itself.
Statues of Abundance of Fruits, Fertility of Crops, Products of Autumn, and Joy of Prairie and Gardens.
These four statues represent the abundance water brings. From left to right, you’ll see Abundance of Fruit, which holds a horn of plenty. The Fertility of Crops which holds wheat ears. Autumn products include a cup and grapes. Finally, Joy of Prarie and Gardens is adorned with flowers. It represents the complete luxury of growing flowers for personal happiness.
The Aqua Virgo
Marcus Agrippa was returning from a long battle on a hot summer day, and his troops were dying of dehydration. They searched for water, but none was to be found!
A young girl (Virgo in Latin) appeared and showed them a source from where they could get fresh water. This new water revitalised the army, and they returned to Rome. M. Agrippa returned looking for the young girl, but she was gone. He decided to build an aqueduct from the source that fed into Rome. This scene is depicted in a relief sculpture above Oceanus (centrepiece) to the right.
Relief of M. Agrippa Building Aqua Virgo
You will see another relief equilateral to the first relief. In this picture of M. Agrippa approving architectural plans for the aqueduct, you can see construction in the background.
Roman society was very impressive and still is today. They accomplished incredible feats with few technological resources. The concept and implementation of an aqueduct is a marvel of civil engineering and one of their crowning achievements. Trevi Fountain stands just over 26 meters high and stretches for no less than 49 meters in width. Trevi Fountain is the most significant baroque fountain in Rome, and the water comes from Salone Springs, which is more than 14 miles from the city centre. The first basic structure of the fountain was built in the Ancient Roman period, B.C. It was built in 19 BC at the meeting place of three separate roads at the end of the aqueduct. This is where the name Trevi Fountain comes from, derived from the Latin word trivium, meaning three streets. It was built from travertine stone, the same material as the Colosseum, as a water source for the city. According to legend, the name Acqua Vergine was given by Marco Vipsanio Agrippa. It may be true when we consider Agrippa’s contributions to Rome’s architecture. Trevi Fountain would not exist only for the Aqua Virgo aqueduct, which was built in 19 BC by Agrippa – the son-in-law of Augustus. Aqua Virgo was initially built to supply water to the Roman Baths in Ancient Rome, so the fountain was positioned at the very end of this aqueduct.
Marco Vipsanio Agrippa
In 1453, Pope Nicholas V decided to have the ancient aqueduct restored. For this, he appointed Leon Battista Alberti and Bernardo Rossellini. The architects created the fountain and decorated it with priests’ and Roman people’s coats of arms. The fountain was not so spectacular in 1629 when Pope Urban VIII (Maffeo Barberini) was noted as saying it lacked any real drama. As a result, the Pope requested a famous architect called Gian Lorenzo Bernini to re-design the feature. In the 17th century, Gian Lorenzo Bernini set out to build the Trevi Fountain, but the plan was never realised. These efforts were abandoned upon Pope UUrban’sdeath.
The renovation of the magnificent fountains and stone ornaments we know Pope Clement XII commissioned today in the late 1700s. An older fountain on the site was demolished in the 17th century, and a design competition was opened for a new fountain. Pope Clement XII invited the best artists of the period to present their projects to complete the monumental fountain. Alessandro Galilei won the project first but was not chosen because of reactions in the capital, and Galilei was Florentine. The Romans were not happy about a Florentine receiving a commission and rebelled. And the project of Roman Nicola Salvi, inspired by Bernini, came to the fore. Salvi created a new theme for the fountain, “Aming of the Waters.”Travertine, a form of limestone, was used to create the facade, and the statues around the fountain were made of Carrara marble. His project was a marvel of scenery. Combining the palace facade with the fountain was derived from a project by the Baroque painter and architect Petro da Cortona. However, the magnificent ostentation of the central triumphal arch of the fountain, with its mythological and allegorical figures, natural rock formations and gushing water, belongs to Salvi. Construction of the fountain began in 1732 and took 30 years to complete. It was completed in 1762, but Salvi sadly passed away in 1751, unable to see the completion of his masterpiece, so Giuseppe Pannini stepped in to complete it. After Salvi died in 1751, Giuseppe Pannini, who modified the original scheme, oversaw its completion in 1762.
Papa V. Nicholas Papa Urban VIII (Maffeo Barberin Papa XII.Clement
Salvi and Barber
Rumour has it that during the work, residents, tradespeople, and artisans were curious about the job’s progress, and from time to time, they had a say about the project and the final status of the fountain. Among them was a barber who had his shop on the ground floor of the Palazzo Castellani, just to the right of the fountain, at the entrance of Via della Stamperia. It is said that the barber was not very happy with the fountain’s construction. He was nearsighted and was afraid that the fountain would damage his business. This barber, whose name is unknown, gave Salvi his opinions about the project and the state of technology and constantly criticised the architect and his project. Salvi, who could not stand the constant complaints and criticism, put a permanent end to this. Salvi was a Baroque artist who loved hidden stories and meanings. Creating beautiful works of art is the first step for men like Salvi. Therefore, when closing his barber shop, he made a sculptural vase that added to the fountain’s dimensions. It resembled the Ace of Hearts or Asso di Coppe from the Sicilian card game Scopa. The game has complexities, but winning is defined by the final moment when the player discards the last card and wins. And so the barber’s field of vision and criticism was closed. The story is very thought-provoking, but no definitive information exists. Bulet’s’s also says that the vase is not the same as the rest of the decoration. Salvi himself describes his fountain with “rustic balustra” and” decorated with two boulders “, “one larger than the other, one larger than the other”. Let’s point out that some remain rough, and some are playfully carved in the shape of a vase. Therefore, “joking” suggests a playful purpose for creating the vase.
The traditions
A worldwide romantic tradition is the coin toss, which no tourist can avoid. Equally romantic is the tradition of the glass, less known than the first. The coin toss has now become a classic. Those who visit Rome must go to the Trevi Fountain and throw a coin into the central basin. This tradition must be performed by placing your back with your right hand on your left shoulder, and your eyes closed. If you turn quickly, once the coin has been thrown, you manage to freeze with your gaze the moment the coin hits the water, and you will surely return to Rome. The first coin is said to ensure a quick return to Rome, the second brings about romance, and the last is the promise of marriage. Also, there is a ritual to this process in which you should stand with your back to the fountain and toss each coin over your left shoulder. That being said, it’s also believed that this tradition dates back to Ancient Rome when drinking a cup of water and tossing a coin into Trevi Fountain would bring great fortune.
The other tradition is that of the glass, which is no longer in use and is not so well known today. Once upon a time, when the boys had to leave for work or military service, their girlfriends made them drink water from the fountain from a new glass and then broke it themselves. This act symbolised a pact of eternal loyalty.
Today, there is another version. The two lovers will have to drink from the “Love Fountain” to the right of the monument. This is one way to make sure you stay loyal forever. Good Luck…