The Trevi Fountain. At 85.3 feet high and 65.6 feet wide, this tower of travertine is a big, wet dream. No, not that kind. One of the most recognized monuments in Rome, it’s where Anita Ekberg took a dip in her famous black dress in La Dolce Vita and where throwing in a coin means you’ll return to the eternal city.
But what’s beneath this fantastic facade? Turns out, the Trevi fountain is still fed by the Acqua Virgo, an ancient acqueduct built in the first century AD by Marcus Agrippa, and resides right above an ancient Roman street- the Vicus Caprarius. Although the Vicus Caprarius no longer remains, a HUGE complex of ancient ruins lie hidden beneath the Trevi fountain, dating to the Imperial age.
How can you see them? The entrance to the so-called “La Citta dell’Acqua” (City of Water) is just around the corner from the Trevi at Vicolo del Puttarello 25. It’s open on Mondays from 4-7:30pm, and from Wednesday to Sunday from 11am – 5pm. Tickets are only 3 euros and just 1 euro for students! You can even get a guided tour (make a reservation in advance at 339 7786192) for 5 euros.
Oh, and the best part (besides the ancient cisterns and late-antique home and sculptures) is that it doubles as a small cinema. So go grab a movie and see some amazing underground ruins to boot.
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[…] a post of La Citta dell’Acqua was written by Young in Rome. I am in this area once a week and thought if I have time to spare, I can drop by to checkout the […]
Thanks for reading! Check it out–it’s pretty amazing
[…] at you), but with every step across this city, you’re meandering over 3000 years of history. From catacombs to hidden cities to everything in between, there’s always something cool downst…. But on one small street in Trastevere, once you descend those stairs you’re in for a totally […]