After several stone leaves fell off the top frieze of the Trevi Fountain in Rome earlier this month, visitors and city residents raised concerns over the fate of one of the eternal city's most iconic landmarks. The fountain, made even more famous by Fellini's La Dolce Vita is a destination for hundreds of thousands of visitors each year who toss a coin and wish a quick return to Rome.
The Trevi Fountain, which originally dates back to 1732, is the latest member in an increasing rash of scandals surrounding Italy's major landmarks that are left in disrepair due to lack of restoration funds. For example, the multiple incidents at the archeological site of Pompeii or the falling piece of Giotto's bell tower in Florence that narrowly missed hitting a pedestrian on the head earlier this year brought the issue to the forefront.
Police temporarily closed the fountain to visitors after the initial damage, and restoration experts uncovered an additional five pieces of frieze in imminent danger of detachment. Improperly conducted past restoration efforts, the erosive effects of Rome's freak snow storm this winter, and the impermanent style of building have all been named as potential causes for the damage.
While some have suggested that the coins thrown into the fountain, which have been estimated to range from anything between ?200 to ?3000 per night, could sponsor the restoration, these funds already benefit local charities.
Acqua Claudia, a Roman mineral water bottling company, has stepped in to sponsor the restoration efforts at an estimated cost of ?200,000, as they felt the fountain was an important symbol of water in Rome and thus intimately related to their brand.
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