Why do we throw coins in the “FOUNTAIN DI TREVI”?

One classic monument to Rome’s grandeur is the Trevi Fountain, a symphony of flowing water and sculpted marble. Enticed by its beauty, both visitors and residents engage in a long-standing custom: tossing a coin over their left shoulder into the glittering depths of the fountain. Deeply ingrained in folklore and tradition, this apparently small deed has great meaning outside of simple superstition.

Though its modern revival is usually ascribed to the 1954 romantic comedy “Three Coins in the Fountain,” the custom’s roots can be found centuries ago. Throwing coins into the Trevi Fountain is shown in the movie as a charm meant to guarantee a quick return to the Eternal City. The popularity of the movie confirmed this custom in the brains of millions of people, hence enhancing the mystery of the fountain.

Still, the custom of throwing coins into the Trevi Fountain predates its movie glory. Giving coins to the gods would, ancient Romans thought, guarantee their safe return from dangerous travels. This custom changed with time until it became connected with the Trevi Fountain. Those who have fallen under the city’s spell will particularly find great resonance in the particular act of throwing a coin over the left shoulder with one’s back to the fountain, which promises a return to Rome.

The coins thrown into the Trevi Fountain today serve a far more honorable use than only wish fulfillment. Workers of the Catholic charity Caritas painstakingly gather the coins—an incredible 3,000 euros every day. Rome’s most defenseless citizens then receive food and basic aid from this sizable sum. Furthermore supported by the money are several social initiatives meant to reduce poverty and enhance the quality of life for people in need.

The kind nature of people who toss coins into the Trevi Fountain goes much beyond Rome’s boundaries. The money gathered helps Caritas worldwide to fight injustice and poverty. Caritas offers financial support and humanitarian relief to people experiencing difficulty in more than 200 countries all around. Thus, the Trevi Fountain represents compassion and solidarity as well as a reminder that even a little deed of kindness can significantly influence the life of others.

Throwing coins into the Trevi Fountain is a lovely junction of philanthropy, mythology, and history. It captures the essence of Rome, a city that deftly combines the secular with the sacred, the modern with the ancient. It is evidence of the transforming power of group action and the ongoing force of human relationship. Remember that your coin throw is more than just a wish for a return to Rome the next time you find yourself before the Trevi Fountain. It is a gift to a larger good, a concrete show of kindness and empathy that permeates many lives all around.