Roman renaissance: Fendi restores Rome’s Trevi Fountain
Fendi unveils the results of its 2.5 million euro renovation of Rome's Trevi Fountain
Today sees the unveiling of Rome's newly refurbished Trevi Fountain, following a €2.5 million restoration project funded by Fendi
In Italy, it is the fashion houses rather than the government who have become the guardians of the country's historic monuments. Last year, Prada and Versace opened their wallets to underwrite a year-long cultural restoration of Milan's Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II that was unveiled in March, while it was the Zegnas and Giorgio Armani who generously sponsored the FAI (Fondo Ambiente Italiano, the Italian national trust) in its restoration of Milan's famous modernist Villa Necchi, as well as the Abbey of San Fruttuoso, near Portofino.
In January 2013 Fendi joined the club with the announcement that it would be commencing a €2.5 million project to restore five fountains across its home city of Rome, including the glorious Trevi Fountain. As a brand that was founded in Italy's capital city, the Fendi for Fountains project is one that is particularly close to its heart.
While the Quattro Fontane – a quartet of Late Renaissance fountains at the intersection of Via delle Quattro Fontane and Via del Quirinale – were unveiled in May, the Trevi Fountain is scheduled to start flowing again today, just 17 months after restoration works began.
During the restoration, which was carried out by a team of 26 craftsmen, Rome's Sovrintendenza Capitolina installed a transparent, elevated boardwalk that allowed some three million visitors to get a closer look at the fountain than ever before and watch the craftsmen at work.
During the restoration, which was carried out by a team of 26 craftsmen over 17 months, Rome's Sovrintendenza Capitolina installed a transparent, elevated boardwalk that allowed some three million visitors to get a closer look at the fountain than ever before
INFORMATION
For more information, visit Fendi
Wallpaper* Newsletter
Receive our daily digest of inspiration, escapism and design stories from around the world direct to your inbox.
Ali Morris is a UK-based editor, writer and creative consultant specialising in design, interiors and architecture. In her 16 years as a design writer, Ali has travelled the world, crafting articles about creative projects, products, places and people for titles such as Dezeen, Wallpaper* and Kinfolk.
-
All-In is the Paris-based label making full-force fashion for main character dressing
Part of our monthly Uprising series, Wallpaper* meets Benjamin Barron and Bror August Vestbø of All-In, the LVMH Prize-nominated label which bases its collections on a riotous cast of characters – real and imagined
By Orla Brennan
-
Maserati joins forces with Giorgetti for a turbo-charged relationship
Announcing their marriage during Milan Design Week, the brands unveiled a collection, a car and a long term commitment
By Hugo Macdonald
-
Through an innovative new training program, Poltrona Frau aims to safeguard Italian craft
The heritage furniture manufacturer is training a new generation of leather artisans
By Cristina Kiran Piotti
-
2026 Olympic and Paralympic Torches: in Carlo Ratti's minimalism ‘the flame is the protagonist’
The 2026 Olympic and Paralympic Torches for the upcoming Milano Cortina Games have been revealed, designed by architect Carlo Ratti to highlight the Olympic flame
By Ellie Stathaki
-
Anni Albers' weaving magic offers a delightful 2-in-1 modernist showcase in Milan
A Milan Design Week showcase of Anni Albers’ weaving work, brought to life by Dedar with the Josef & Anni Albers Foundation, brings visitors to modernist icon, the BBPR-designed Torre Velasca
By Ellie Stathaki
-
Milan Design Week: ‘A Beat of Water’ highlights the power of the precious natural resource
‘A Beat of Water’ by BIG - Bjarke Ingels Group and Roca zooms in on water and its power – from natural element to valuable resource, touching on sustainability and consumption
By Ellie Stathaki
-
This Milan Design Week installation invites you to tread barefoot inside a palazzo
At Palazzo Litta, Moscapartners and Byoung Cho launch a contemplative installation on the theme of migration
By Ellie Stathaki
-
The upcoming Zaha Hadid Architects projects set to transform the horizon
A peek at Zaha Hadid Architects’ future projects, which will comprise some of the most innovative and intriguing structures in the world
By Anna Solomon
-
Is biodesign the future of architecture? EcoLogicStudio thinks so
We talk all things biodesign with British-Italian architecture practice ecoLogicStudio, discussing how architecture can work with nature
By Shawn Adams
-
Meet Carlo Ratti, the architect curating the 2025 Venice Architecture Biennale
We meet Italian architect Carlo Ratti, the curator of the 2025 Venice Architecture Biennale, to find out what drives and fascinates him ahead of the world’s biggest architecture festival kick-off in May
By Ellie Stathaki
-
The brutal harmony of Villa Caffetto: an Escheresque Italian modernist gem
The Escheresque Italian Villa Caffetto designed by Fausto Bontempi for sculptor Claudio Caffetto
By Adam Štěch