Pope Urban VIII originally commissioned Bernini to build the Trevi Fountain, however, Pope Urban VIII died prior to completion of the fountain and the project was stopped. A century after the original plan was abandoned Pope Clement XII commissioned Nicola Salvi in 1732 to design a fountain to be built in Trevi Square. Salvi's design uses many of the elements in Bernini's original design. The statue took 30 years to complete.

The fountain is a Baroque design and stands 85 feet high and 65 feet wide. The central figure in the fountain is Neptune, god of the sea. Neptune is riding a chariot in the shape of a shell that is pulled by two sea horses. Each sea horse is guided by a Triton. One horse is calm the other is enraged; each symbolizes the moods of the sea.

To the left of Neptune is a statue representing Abundance, on the right a statue represents Health. The water at the bottom of the fountain represents the sea.

The Trevi Fountain was made famous in the movies "Three Coins in a Fountain" and "La Dolce Vita". Legend has it that if you toss a coin into the fountain with your right hand over your right shoulder you will return to Rome.

The fountain is a perfect stopping point in the middle of your walking tour of Rome. You can grab a bottle of water from one of the nearby shops and relax on the steps surrounding the fountain.