Every day thousands of visitors gather in front of the Trevi fountain. No one wants to leave Rome if first they haven’t completed the ritual of the coin toss, that will grant them a return into the eternal city.
But very few people realize that behind the cascading water lies a hidden chamber that is usually off-limits, and that almost no visitor ever sees.
Behind the fountain is the maneuvering chamber that regulates the flow of water feeding one of the most famous fountains in the world.
This chamber is normally closed to the public and only accessible on specific occasions. The company responsible for Rome’s water system (ACEA), gave us permission to enter and document this hidden space, to share a key aspect of the famous fountain.
Below you can see the video we filmed inside.
The Hidden Infrastructure Behind the Trevi Fountain
The Trevi Fountain is not only a masterpiece of Baroque art. It is also part of a much older story of Roman engineering.
The water that flows through the fountain is supplied by the Aqua Virgo, an ancient Roman aqueduct built in 19 BC. It was built by Marcus Agrippa (the same name you can read on the Pantheon facade) to bring fresh water into the city, in particular to feed his newly built Baths of Agrippa, the first public thermal baths of Rome.
More than two thousand years later, the same aqueduct still feeds many of Rome’s most famous fountains, such as the fountain of the Four Rivers in Piazza Navona and the fountain of La Barcaccia by the Spanish Steps.
Today, inside the maneuvering chamber, technicians regulate and monitor the water flow that keeps the Trevi Fountain running continuously.
Did you know how many liters of water come out of the Trevi fountain every second? 220 liters (about 387 Imperial Pints). The water is pushed out through modern pumps, and then, once it’s out, it goes back in. The system recycles the same water!
A Rare Glimpse Behind the Scenes
Entering this space offers a completely different perspective on the Trevi Fountain. Instead of marble statues and dramatic Baroque architecture, you find the technical heart that quietly keeps the fountain alive. An example of how the beauty of Rome hides layers of engineering beneath the surface.
This hidden space is normally closed and only accessible to specialists who maintain the fountain and its water infrastructure, but it reveals something visitors may not think about. Rome’s monuments are not only historic, they are part of a living system that still functions today.
Are you planning a trip to Rome?
This is just a glimpse of the fascinating background stories Rome hides in plain sight. If you’re curious to discover more when in Rome, see how our Rome tours work, learn more about the best Rome tours or browse all our small-group tours to see the experiences currently available. During these tours you explore Rome’s iconic neighborhoods and discover both the famous sights and the hidden gems behind them that you didn’t expect.
For example, during our Underground the Trevi fountain tour, we also take you underground to visit its ancient aqueduct.
Our tours are not packed, not rushed, and not stuck in tourist spots — because this is how we’d show Rome to our best friend.
