It's a fountain. With a lot of tourists around it. After going through all of Rome, I wish I had my coin back and that there were fountains in Florence and Venice. Once you've done Rome, you really don't have to do it again. But you have to go here just because. Just take stock of your group before you start throwing coins because if you don't look back you might lose them!

The Trevi is a sight not to be missed in Rome. It is a fountain that was carved into the side of a building and finished at around 1751. It is intricate, cooling, and huge. To snap a photo of the fountain in its entirety, one has to go WAY back. The carvings consist of people, horses and details too small to speak of. Do not miss this enchanting plaza. It is romantic, and special, and worth the walk. Turn around and throw your euro in and wish to come back to Rome.

We visited the Trevi Fountain as part of an evening tour of Rome. It was beautiful in the early evening, with the lights in the fountain providing a welcoming glow. I waited patiently for my turn to throw money into the fountain. Yes, I lined up the throw away good money! (Although I must confess, my contribution was at the bottom end of the Euro scale.) It seems that I am now destined to have a romantic and happy return to Rome. (Hmmmm. Maybe that means I'm going to win a lottery... otherwise I'll be much older and wiser before I have the money to go again!)

You’ve heard it all … You know the scene with the luscious Anita Eckberg in Fellini’s "8 ½"… Blah, blah, blah… I can only add platitude about the Trevi Fountain. This huge sculpted 18th Century fountain by Nicolo Salvi is a landmark. It represents Neptune, god of the sea, and his court. It’s beautiful, it’s big, it's theatrical in all its rococo splendour.

It’s also packed with tourists, of course, who are all dutifully casting their Eurocent in the water. To do it properly, turn your back on the fountain, put your coin in your right hand and throw it over the opposite shoulder. Throw it once and you’ll come back to Rome, throw it twice and you’ll fall in love in Rome, throw it three times and you’ll get married.

Fontana di Treve, or Trevi Fountain as we Americans call it, is thought to get its name from the three streets (tre vie) that come together at this rather small piazza. Although the present fountain wasn't finished until 1732-1751, it was started some hundred years earlier. Its source is still the Aqua Vergine aqueduct, although for the past 40 or so years it has been chemically treated and partially recirculated by a system of electric pumps. The fountain was cleaned and restored for the first time from 1989-91, but needed it again by 1999. The large archway represents the palace of Neptune. Neptune is in the statue in the chariot drawn by sea horses. Other white marble statues also adorn the beautiful fountain.

We took the metro to the Spagna station, checked out the Spanish Steps, then walked the couple blocks to the little intersection where the Trevi Fountain is. It's not a really large fountain and it's in a built-up part of the city, but it's still a pretty sight. There are plenty of signs around the central part of the city to steer you in the right direction.

This fountain was rarely visited before the movie Three Coins in a Fountain was made. Now it's Rome's most visited fountain. It's a beautiful spot to stop and rest for a while on the abundant concrete bench seating facing the fountain. There's even a drinking fountain there for refilling your water bottle. But it's not recommended that you drink from the Trevi fountain because of all the chemicals in it. And, yes, we threw a couple coins in the fountain to make sure that we'll be going back.