Rome’s iconic Trevi Fountain, a masterpiece of Baroque art, is not only a magnet for visitors seeking to make a wish but also a source of hope for those in need. The coins tossed into the fountain by tourists from around the world are collected and donated to Caritas, a global Catholic charity, which uses the funds to support various welfare projects in the city.
In 2022 alone, Caritas collected an impressive 1.4 million euros ($1.52 million) from the fountain, and with Rome being one of the most visited cities in the world, attracting 21 million tourists, the organization expects to have gathered even more in 2023.
The process of extracting the coins is a spectacle in itself. Workers from regional utility ACEA balance on the edge of the vast fountain, using long brooms and suction hoses to collect the coins. The coins are then dried, sorted, and counted at the Caritas office.
Signs around the fountain inform visitors that their change will go to charity, a thought that pleases many tourists. Yula Cole from Brazil, after making her wish, expressed her happiness knowing that her coin will not only fulfill her wish but also help those in need.
The Trevi Fountain, completed in 1762, is a symbol of Rome’s grandeur and has been the setting for iconic moments in cinema, such as Anita Ekberg’s famous scene in Federico Fellini’s “La Dolce Vita.” Today, wading into the fountain is forbidden, and tourists face fines if they do so.
Caritas’ supermarket, known as the Emporium, allocates food to needy residents who can purchase it with tokens on a card. The coins from the Trevi Fountain directly contribute to this initiative, providing essential support to those who have lost their jobs or are facing hardships.
As tourists continue to toss coins into the Trevi Fountain, their wishes not only carry the promise of love, good health, or a return to the Eternal City but also provide a lifeline to those in need, making the act of coin-tossing a symbol of both hope and generosity.
