Fontana di Trevi, Rome

A Rome vacation will necessarily be filled with fountains, but the Fontana di Trevi—magically cozied into a small space in the center of the city—is the most jaw dropping. This 250-year-old fountain was designed by Nicola Salvi over a place where “aqua vergine,” or pure water, has flowed for 2,000 years. The water was said to be so pure that the Grand Tourists of centuries past would come here to fill up their tea cups. We don’t recommend drinking it today, though, as it’s not heavily chlorinated. Any visitor is obligated to toss a coin into the fountain to ensure a return to Rome. And the money goes to another good cause: for decades the city didn’t pay attention to thousands of coins. That is, until about a decade ago when a man was busted wading through the water taking the money during the cover of night. Since then, the city has donated the money to the Red Cross. Of course, one of the best things to do in Rome is to enjoy the history that is evident throughout this gorgeous city.

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