When Was the Trevi Fountain Built?

Quick answer

The Trevi Fountain was built between 1732 and 1762. Pope Clement XII held a design competition in 1730, awarded the commission to Nicola Salvi in 1732, and construction continued under three subsequent popes for 30 years.

19 BC — the original water source

The Aqua Virgo aqueduct was completed by Marcus Agrippa in 19 BC, bringing pure spring water 21 km from the Salone springs into central Rome. The aqueduct's terminus has been on this exact spot for over two millennia — earlier fountains stood here long before the current Baroque masterpiece.

1732 — Salvi wins the commission

Pope Clement XII held an open competition in 1730. Nicola Salvi — a relatively unknown architect — won in 1732, beating more famous names. Ground was broken the same year. The first decade was foundations and the structural shell.

1751 — Salvi dies mid-project

Salvi died in 1751 with the central figures still incomplete. Pietro Bracci had begun carving Oceanus and the Tritons. Pope Benedict XIV appointed Giuseppe Pannini to finish the project, who simplified some of Salvi's more ambitious sculptural plans to bring it in on budget.

1762 — Pannini finishes & inaugurates

Pope Clement XIII inaugurated the fountain on 22 May 1762 — exactly 30 years after Salvi was awarded the commission, and 32 years after Clement XII first announced the competition. Salvi never saw it finished. Neither did three of the four popes who commissioned phases of it.

From Salvi's death to Pannini's completion

When Nicola Salvi died in 1751, the project was at a critical crossroads. He had dedicated 19 years of his life to the fountain, but the massive sculptural program remained incomplete. Giuseppe Pannini, appointed to take over, faced the daunting task of interpreting Salvi's vision while managing the dwindling patience of the papacy. Pannini introduced subtle modifications to the original plans, partly to manage costs and partly to simplify the complex engineering required for the water flow. He notably altered the central niche's sculptures, leading to some friction with the artists Salvi had already commissioned. Despite these challenges, Pannini's tenure (1751–1762) saw the final assembly of the iconic Oceanus figure by Pietro Bracci and the completion of the basin. His ability to navigate the transition between Salvi’s High Baroque intensity and a slightly more restrained late-Baroque style ensured the fountain didn't become an unfinished ruin. The final inauguration in 1762 was as much a tribute to Pannini's management as it was to Salvi's design.

Earlier fountains on the same spot

While the Baroque masterpiece we see today dates to the 18th century, the site at the junction of three roads (the 'tre vie') has hosted fountains for over 500 years. The very first recorded fountain was a simple, three-mouthed basin commissioned by Pope Nicholas V in 1453. Designed by Leon Battista Alberti, this Renaissance structure was strictly functional, serving as the terminal point for the revived Aqua Virgo aqueduct. In 1629, Pope Urban VIII, feeling the existing fountain wasn't dramatic enough, commissioned Gian Lorenzo Bernini to design a replacement. Bernini moved the fountain to its current position to make it visible from the Quirinal Palace, but the project was abandoned when the Pope died and funds ran dry. Bernini's influence remains, however; Nicola Salvi’s later design incorporated several of Bernini’s core concepts, including the integration of the fountain into the facade of the Palazzo Poli. These earlier iterations laid the literal and conceptual foundations for the grandeur that eventually replaced them in 1762.

Restorations since 1762

• 1998 — first major modern restoration cleaned 200 years of grime
• 2014–2015 — €2.2 million Fendi-funded restoration; the fountain was drained, scaffolded and meticulously cleaned
• 2024–2025 — periodic basin cleaning and the introduction of the new €2 close-up platform

Continue reading about the Trevi Fountain

Plan the visit itself

• Complete Trevi Fountain visitor guide
• Trevi Fountain map & what's nearby
• Pantheon to Trevi walking route
• Spanish Steps to Trevi walk
• Half a day around the Trevi Fountain
• One day in Rome itinerary

Frequently Asked Questions

What year was the Trevi Fountain built?

Construction ran from 1732 to 1762 — a full 30 years. The fountain was inaugurated by Pope Clement XIII on 22 May 1762.

How old is the Trevi Fountain in 2026?

264 years old, measured from its 1762 inauguration. The Aqua Virgo aqueduct that feeds it is 2,045 years old.

Who built the Trevi Fountain?

Architect Nicola Salvi designed and led construction from 1732 until his death in 1751. Giuseppe Pannini completed it from 1751 to 1762, with sculptures by Pietro Bracci, Filippo della Valle and others.

Why did it take 30 years to build?

Three reasons: Salvi's perfectionism (he micromanaged every sculpture), funding shortages between popes, and the sheer scale — 26.3 m tall, 49 m wide, carved from solid travertine.