Rectangular structure installed as 18th-century masterpiece undergoes essential maintenance
One of the first things American students Fiona Hastings and Olivia Nieporte did as they visited Rome for the first time was venture to the Trevi fountain to partake in the age-old ritual of tossing a coin over their shoulder and into the world-famous landmark.
They had envisaged their coins falling into the basin of the 18th-century masterpiece as water cascaded down from its elaborate sculptures. Instead, they found it bone dry, and had to make do with throwing their money over a transparent panel and into a small pool that has been specifically installed to allow tourists to perform the ritual, as the monument undergoes maintenance.
