Trevi Fountain

People by the Trevi Fountain near Rome Luxury Suites

Only a 10-minute walk from our Rome Luxury Suites properties, the Trevi Fountain is another extraordinary icon of Rome. This fabulously foaming masterpiece seems to be constantly thronged with people, throwing a coin over their shoulder to ensure a return to Rome. The immediate area, at the edge of the Spanish Steps district, is always busy, but we recommend some hidden neighborhood gems in ‘A Roman Notebook’.

The fountain is famous for the glorious scene in Fellini’s La Dolce Vita when Swedish star Anita Ekberg swishes gracefully through its waters dressed in a long black evening gown. However, the Trevi Fountain’s roots go back to the 1st century B.C. and Rome’s first emperor, Augustus. It was through this area that he constructed the “Virgin Aqueduct” to bring water to central Rome.

After barbarians sacked Rome and the city’s aqueducts failed, the Virgin Aqueduct was the only one that kept running. So, in the 18th century, the Pope built a grand fountain as thanks. The result—today’s Trevi Fountain—took architect Niccolo’ Salvi 30 years to build.