The Scout’s Report · La Dolce Vita
A winter night in the Trevi Fountain
How Fellini turned a public monument into the most famous film set in Rome, and why nobody will ever be allowed to repeat it.
By Giulia FerraroPublished 7 min read
Taking over a landmark
Shooting at the Trevi Fountain meant taking over one of Rome’s busiest squares at night. The production had to light the whole facade, control the crowds and keep the water running while a star walked through it.
The scene was filmed on cold nights in 1959. The water was freezing, and the stories of how the cast survived it, from waders under costumes to generous drinks between takes, have become part of the film’s legend.
Come before dawn, when the square is empty and the sound of the water fills it.
A street that was also a set
Fellini also needed the Via Veneto. But instead of shooting the whole street on location, he rebuilt a large part of it at Cinecittà, where he could control every light and every extra.
That’s why, when you walk the real street today, some angles look right and some don’t. The trick is to compare the film with the street, frame by frame.
Visiting today
The fountain has been restored and is carefully protected. Entering the water is forbidden and fined. The best way to feel the scene is to come before dawn, when the square is empty and the sound of the water fills it.