Mystery of the Trevi Fountain: Who gets the coins?

2,000 to 3,000 euros a day in the water - who really benefits from the money from the Trevi Fountain?

The Trevi Fountain in Rome is one of the city's most famous landmarks and attracts millions of tourists every year. Almost every visitor follows the popular custom of throwing a coin into the fountain - a symbolic act that supposedly guarantees a return to Rome. But what actually happens to all the money that ends up in the basin every day? We have the answer.

Interesting fact: The Trevi Fountain is not only a landmark, but also a movie star! The fountain became world-famous thanks to the iconic scene in Federico Fellini's "La Dolce Vita" (1960), in which Anita Ekberg walks through the water in her black dress. This scene made the Trevi Fountain a symbol of Rome and Italian cinema. Today, however, entering the fountain is strictly monitored - anyone attempting to recreate the scene risks a heavy fine!

Coins for the Eternal City

According to an old legend, throwing a coin over your left shoulder in the Trevi Fountain promises that you will soon return to Rome. If you throw two coins, you are said to fall in love with a Roman man or woman, and if you throw three coins, a wedding is said to follow. Whether out of romantic tradition or simply out of tourist desire - between 2,000 and 3,000 euros end up in the water every day, sometimes even more. In 2022, a record sum of around 1.5 million euros was expected.

Earlier times of "coin stealing"

A few decades ago, the money in the Trevi Fountain was a "lordless good" that anyone could take. This led to scandals: In 1997, a Roman woman was arrested for fishing around 18 euros out of the fountain to buy school supplies for her children. The case caused a stir, but the judges acquitted her. Another prominent example was Roberto Cercelletta, known as "D'Artagnan", who was caught stealing coins from the fountain several times - he was not able to avoid a total of more than 500 fines.

The Trevi Fountain is so popular with tourists because it is not only an impressive architectural masterpiece, but also offers a fascinating legend: Anyone who throws a coin over their left shoulder into the water is said to return to Rome.

More protection for your money

To protect the city's "most precious thing", the Trevi Fountain is now monitored by police officers around the clock. The water is drained regularly and the coins are collected and transported safely. However, there are still attempts to get rich from the coins. In 2018, a 21-year-old was arrested when he tried to steal coins from the fountain.

From fountain to charity

Originally, the money from the fountain was given to the Roman Caritas, which used it for charitable purposes. In 2006, this was officially established by a city ordinance. However, there was an outcry in 2018 when the city of Rome announced that it intended to use the money for its own projects in future. Following protests, the mayor declared that the money would continue to go to Caritas - however, the city's energy and environment authority Acea is now being tasked with collecting and counting the coins to ensure greater transparency and order.

At night, the Trevi Fountain unfolds a very special magic. The ornate sculptures and the water basin glow in the soft glow of the lighting, while the sound of the water accompanies the bustling streets of Rome.

Conclusion

The money that ends up in the Trevi Fountain every day has come a long way. It now belongs to the city of Rome and is used for charitable purposes. But even if the legend of the return to Rome still attracts thousands of tourists, one thing remains clear: the real winner of the coin tosses is the city of Rome itself.

Author: Adina

Source : https://www.travelbook.de