Explained: What happens to coins thrown into Rome’s Trevi Fountain

Signs around the fountain explain that the change will be donated to charity. (document)

Rome:

When visitors’ coins splash into Rome’s majestic Trevi Fountain, carrying blessings for love, health or a return to the Eternal City, they provide practical help to people the visitor has never met.

For hundreds of years in Rome, visitors have flocked to the fountain to make wishes, following a legendary ritual. Few people would give their coins a second thought.

Today, the coins pile up for days before they are fished out and sent to the Rome branch of global Catholic charity Caritas, which counts the change and uses it to fund food banks, soup kitchens and welfare programs.

In 2022, Caritas raised 1.4 million euros ($1.52 million) from the fountains and expects to raise even more in 2023. Rome is one of the most visited cities in the world, with 21 million tourists.

Extracting the coins is a spectacle that requires crews from regional utility ACEA to use long brooms and suction hoses to balance on the edge of a massive Baroque fountain.

The coins are then given to Caritas, where they are dried using hair dryers and dish dryers, sorted and counted.

Signage around the fountain said the change would be donated to charity – an idea that delighted many visitors who posed in front of the landmark.

“I want to make a wish that is most dear to my heart,” said Yura Cole from Brazil after tossing a coin. “But I also know that this coin will not only stay there, but will also help those in need.” of people. I made a wish, but hopefully the money will help others make their wishes come true as well.”

Day or night, crowds of people gather around the fountain to pose for photos. Legend has it that if you throw a coin with your right hand over your left shoulder into the fountain, you will return to Rome. People eagerly add their own personal wishes.

Carolla, who is from Chile, said: “I tossed a coin, as they say, if you toss a coin you will go back to Rome, but also because I wanted to fulfill my wish to find love.”

The Trevi Fountain was completed in 1762 and covers one side of the Palazzo Poli in the center of Rome. The fountain has a statue of Triton guiding the shell chariot of Oceanus, embodying Taming the Waters Theme.

Italian film director Federico Fellini shot one of the most famous scenes in the film “La Dolce Vita” here, in which Anita Ekberg wades into the fountain after midnight to greet She is joined by Marcello Mastroianni.

Today, tourists are prohibited from wading into the waters or face fines.

Coin classification

ACEA manager Francesco Prisco said up to four workers collect the coins twice a week. The fountain is drained twice a month for cleaning.

“Collection and cleaning will be carried out as quickly as possible to minimize downtime for the fountains,” he said.

After the coins were swept into a long row with a long broom, they were picked up by a hose and taken to Caritas’ offices, where employee Fabrizio Marchioni spread them out on a large table to dry.

It’s not just coins that are fished out of the fountain. Workers removed jewelry, dentures, religious medals and even umbilical cords.

A sign next to the fountain warns against stealing coins.

The coins have been targeted for decades, sometimes affixed to poles with magnets.

Close to Rome’s main station is the Caritas supermarket, called the Emporium, which distributes food to residents in need, and residents can buy food with tokens on their cards.

“I was a blacksmith but I lost my job and my arthritis didn’t help me find a new job. Fortunately there are places like this mall,” said a man who gave his name only as Domenico The man said.

Another man named Luigi explained: “Before I lost my job, I was a builder and the owner of a video surveillance system company. Places like this mall can provide concrete help.”

Back at the fountain, the coins are piling up.

“I was told that if I tossed two coins, my wish would come true. So that’s why I did it,” said Chinese tourist Yu Ting.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)