Fontana di Trevi, Roma

Speranza


A world of figures intermingled with water sweeps from the facciata of a palazzo to make the most sumptuous fountain in the world: the fountain of Trevi.

Since Roman times there has been a fountain on this spo, sustained by the Acqua Vergine, which, brought by canal from Salona, seven or so miles from Rome, once supplied the baths of Agrippa.

it still gushes out day at the meeting point of three ways -- the 'tre vie' or 'trevi' -- that gave the fountain its name.

The present fountain was built in the 18th century by Niccolo Salvi, inspired by a design by Bernini.

The conception of the whole is truly Baroque.

On the one hand, the monument and the background against which it stands were conceived as complementary entities.

On the other hand, it has no symmetry of composition.

We can look at it from any number of angles and amire its inexhaustible richness.

In the centre, Nettuno on his cariot is drawn by two horses.

One of them, unharnessed, symbolises the untamable sea; the other, which is peaceful, the calmed sea.

Several sculptors, including Pannini and Giambattista Maini, gave the finishing touches to this monument which, so the story goes, cost Salvi his life, since he died of exhaustion after conceiving it.