Here are the traditional “rules” and associated meanings for throwing coins into the Trevi Fountain:
- Stand with your back to the fountain.
- Use your right hand to toss the coin over your left shoulder.
- One coin: You will return to Rome.
- Two coins: You will fall in love with an attractive Italian.
- Three coins: You will marry the person you met in Rome.
These traditions are said to have roots in ancient pagan rituals of offering coins to water deities for good luck and fortune. Today, it’s also a way to embrace the spirit of Rome.
- Only coins are permitted ; other objects like paper notes or flowers are forbidden.
- It is illegal to retrieve coins from the fountain.
- Do not enter or bathe in the fountain as it is strictly forbidden and punishable by fines.
- Do not sit on the edge of the basin.
The coins collected from the Trevi Fountain are donated to Rome’s Catholic charity, Caritas, which uses the funds to help those in need by providing food, shelter, and other essential services.
What is the correct way to throw coins into Trevi Fountain?
Good point! Toss a Coin in the Trevi Fountain! Stand in awe of the Trevi Fountain in Rome – a magnificent Baroque masterpiece known for its grandeur and intricate sculptures. Toss a coin over your left shoulder to ensure your return to the Eternal City.
What is the rule about the Trevi Fountain coin?
The myth, originating in 1954 with the movie “Three Coins in the Fountain,” goes like this: If you throw one coin: you will return to Rome. If you throw two coins: you will fall in love with an attractive Italian. If you throw three coins: you will marry the person that you met.
Are you still allowed to throw coins in the Trevi Fountain?
Good point! New rules in Italy state that in 2025, the Trevi Fountain in Rome will be restricted to visitors and accessible only through paid tickets. Visitors will no longer be able to toss coins into the fountain, but there will be baskets to put the coins in.
What do Italians say will happen if you throw a coin in the Trevi Fountain?
From my experience, The legend holds that a coin thrown into the fountain will ensure a return to Rome. This tradition also dates back to the ancient Romans who often threw coins in water to make the gods of water favor their journey or help them get back home safely.