A view of Rome's Trevi Fountain, Wednesday, March 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)2025-03-22T04:32:49Z ROME (AP) The Trevi Fountain, arguably the worlds most famous, has graced screens for decades, from Fellinis La Dolce Vita to Netflixs Emily in Paris. Each year, millions of visitors push through Romes narrow streets to gaze at the towering Titan god flanked by falls cascading into a turquoise pool.Yet, they never get to venture behind Oceanus back to see what produces the sublime play of water in the baroque masterpiece. A worker of Romes main water and energy company, ACEA, opens the door of Romes Trevi Fountains old water flow control room, Wednesday, March 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini) A worker of Romes main water and energy company, ACEA, opens the door of Romes Trevi Fountains old water flow control room, Wednesday, March 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini) Share Share Facebook Copy Link copied Print Email X LinkedIn Bluesky Flipboard Pinterest Reddit Read More A view of Rome's Trevi fountain is seen through a window of its old water flow control room, Wednesday, March 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini) A view of Rome's Trevi fountain is seen through a window of its old water flow control room, Wednesday, March 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini) Share Share Facebook Copy Link copied Print Email X LinkedIn Bluesky Flipboard Pinterest Reddit Read More A view of Rome's Trevi fountain is seen through a window of its old water flow control room, Wednesday, March 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini) A view of Rome's Trevi fountain is seen through a window of its old water flow control room, Wednesday, March 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini) Share Share Facebook Copy Link copied Print Email X LinkedIn Bluesky Flipboard Pinterest Reddit Read More Wooden doors on an adjacent street lead to the maneuvering chambers that control the fountains water supply, coming from the Aqua Virgo an ancient Roman aqueduct 16 kilometers (10 miles) away. Two electric pumps recycle 126 liters (33 gallons) of water per second while Romes water management company, ACEA, carefully monitors the flow around the clock.This precise amount is crucial for the movement of water through the statues; a little more or less, and it wouldnt work, said Davide DAlonzo, ACEAs manager for the area. The modern maneuvering chamber features metal tanks and lighted panels. In the original, arched chamber, water audibly rushes through a thick pipe and there is a functional, 18th-century hydrometer to gauge the fountains water level. A worker of Romes main water and energy company, ACEA, walks in Romes Trevi fountains new water flow control room, Wednesday, March 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini) A worker of Romes main water and energy company, ACEA, walks in Romes Trevi fountains new water flow control room, Wednesday, March 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini) Share Share Facebook Copy Link copied Print Email X LinkedIn Bluesky Flipboard Pinterest Reddit Read More A worker of Romes main water and energy company, ACEA, operates on a dashboard of Romes Trevi Fountains new water flow control room, Wednesday, March 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini) A worker of Romes main water and energy company, ACEA, operates on a dashboard of Romes Trevi Fountains new water flow control room, Wednesday, March 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini) Share Share Facebook Copy Link copied Print Email X LinkedIn Bluesky Flipboard Pinterest Reddit Read More A worker of Rome's main water and energy company, ACEA, walks in Rome's Trevi Fountain's old water flow control room, Wednesday, March 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini) A worker of Rome's main water and energy company, ACEA, walks in Rome's Trevi Fountain's old water flow control room, Wednesday, March 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini) Share Share Facebook Copy Link copied Print Email X LinkedIn Bluesky Flipboard Pinterest Reddit Read More A view of Rome's Trevi Fountain's old water flow control room, Wednesday, March 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini) A view of Rome's Trevi Fountain's old water flow control room, Wednesday, March 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini) Share Share Facebook Copy Link copied Print Email X LinkedIn Bluesky Flipboard Pinterest Reddit Read More A large, rudimentary spreadsheet on the wall displays the names of rich Roman families whose homes received water from the chamber long ago; when they fell behind on their payments, their supply was cut off. The chambers grated windows grant views out over the fountain and its many visitors all of whom are oblivious to its hidden waterworks. They toss coins over their shoulders into the water, a hopeful gesture based on a legend that it guarantees their return to the eternal city. A worker of Romes main water and energy company, ACEA, opens a window of Romes Trevi Fountains old water flow control room, Wednesday, March 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini) A worker of Romes main water and energy company, ACEA, opens a window of Romes Trevi Fountains old water flow control room, Wednesday, March 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini) Share Share Facebook Copy Link copied Print Email X LinkedIn Bluesky Flipboard Pinterest Reddit Read More TRISHA THOMAS Thomas covers events throughout Southern Europe, Italy, and the Vatican for The Associated Press based in Rome. twitter instagram mailto