A Georgia Girl in Germany

The Trevi Fountain is the most famous and arguably the most beautiful fountain in all of Rome. This impressive monument dominates the small Trevi Square and is at the ending part of the Aqua Virgo, an aqueduct constructed in 19 B.C. that brings water from approximately 20 kilometers outside Rome from the Salone Springs and supplies the fountains in the historic center of Rome with water. In 1732, Pope Clement XII commissioned Nicola Salvi to create a large fountain at the Trevi Square. A previous undertaking to build the fountain after a design by Bernini was stopped a century earlier after the death of Pope Urban VIII, but Salvi based his masterpiece on Bernini’s design. Construction of the baroque fountain was finally completed in 1762.

The central figure of the fountain, in front of a large niche, is Neptune, god of the sea. He is riding a chariot in the shape of a shell, pulled by two sea horses. Each sea horse is guided by a Triton. One of the horses is calm and obedient while the other is restless, symbolizing the fluctuating moods of the sea. On the left of Neptune is a statue representing abundance, while the statue on the right represents good health. Above the sculptures are bas-reliefs, one of them shows Agrippa, the girl after whom the aqueduct was named.

The water at the bottom of the fountain represents the sea. A traditional legend holds that if visitors throw a coin into the fountain, they will return to Rome. Tradition dictates that you should toss it over your shoulder with your back to the fountain, so we each contributed to the approximately €3,000 thrown into the fountain each day in hopes of returning to the city one day. The money is collected at night and is used to subsidize a supermarket for Rome's needy.

We also found a small gelato shop across from the square, and had to stop in to test Rome’s ice cream. One of the ladies in our tour group said this particular shop had the best gelato in all of Rome. It certainly was good, even in the middle of winter!

Labels: Benjamin, Italy, MacKenzie, Travel, Zachary