The Urban Legend

The most entertainment I have seen at the Trevi Fountain is watching people perform the world known urban legend. If you toss a coin over your shoulder and into the water with your back facing the fountain, it is believed you will return to Rome. This custom was begun in the 18th century as a way of collecting money for neighborhood "charities." The Trevi coin belief got its biggest boost from the 1954 movie, "Three Coins in the Fountain." The movie portrayed three coins being tossed in the fountain, two meant an engagement would occur soon, and three meant a divorce. I have seen a plethora of people reading the Rick Steve's tour guide as they literally perform their actions step-by-step as the book tells you to. It makes me laugh when I see tourists with their backs to the fountain, coin in one hand, and book in the other. Half of the coins they tried to toss in did not even make it into the fountain because of their fascination with making sure they did exactly as the millions of other people throughout history had done. The Trevi Fountain is visited by approximately 8,000 people on a daily basis, collecting about 3000 euros every night, which are used to help Rome's needy.