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It’s amazing how tradition holds up. Every year, tourism in Rome is expressive and some habits do not change. One of them, and perhaps the most symbolic, is the throwing of coins into the Trevi Fountain. But no one wonders what happens to them, right? Here we will find out what happens to all the coins that are thrown every year into the most beautiful fountain in the world.
How did the tradition of throwing coins into the Trevi Fountain originate?
The Trevi Fountain was designed by Nicola Salvi and built between 1732 and 1762. It represents the base of water by the Greco-Roman gods. For this reason, it has Corinthian columns. In addition, it shows the powerful and majestic ocean deity taming sea animals, and representations of the mysteries of the seas.
The habit of tourists throwing a coin into the fountain with their backs open dates back to the 1954 film “Three Coins in the Fountain”, in which the characters throw a coin into the fountain over their left shoulder, as people do.
But what happens to the many coins that thousands of tourists toss each year?
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Where do the coins thrown into the fountain end up?
Each year, the number of coins is around 1.5 million euros. There were constant attempts at theft. Therefore, the Prefecture of Rome assumed the responsibility of taking a stand on the matter.
Once a year, since 2001, the town hall calls a specialized team to withdraw the amount. This team stacks up the coins, uses a suction hose to extract them from the water, and then puts them in bags. Everything is done under the watchful eyes of the police.
Part of the proceeds will go to Caritas, Rome’s largest charity. Another part goes to a complex on the outskirts of Rome that houses a series of social services. They both run asylums, orphanages and social work with homeless people through money from the source.
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