Rome - The Trevi Fountain in the heart of Rome provides an excellent source of income for the city as every year about 600,000 euros (941,000 dollars) in coins are fished from its waters. The money has been dropped into the fountain by superstitious tourists, who believe that by tossing in a coin over their right shoulder, they will one day return to the "Eternal City".
"This is the second time I have been to Rome. Maybe I have to thank a coin that I threw into the fountain for my return," says one Czech tourist.
But throwing coins into the Trevi Fountain is just one of the many myths and legends that surround the Italian capital.
The source of the myth surrounding the Trevi Fountain is unknown.
But it's a different case with the legend of the "Bocca della Verita," or the "Mouth of Truth" as it's known in English, located in the portico of the church of the Santa Maria in Cosmedin.
It was carved in the Middle Ages, and legend has it that anyone who tells a lie and places their hand in its mouth will have their fingers bitten off.
During the Middle Ages, when the mouth's powers decreased a sword would be brought in to action.
The mouth is best known today for its appearance in a scene in the Hollywood classic "Roman Holiday" in which Gregory Peck places his hand in the mouth and frightens his co-star Audrey Hepburn.
But even more so than the "Mouth of Truth" in the Middle Ages, ancient Romans in the first century after Christ feared their Emperor Nero.
Long after his death, Nero still inspired fear in Rome's citizens leading to the legend that his spirit inhabited a walnut tree that grew beside his burial site.
Ravens in the tree were considered demons who tortured the dead emperor's soul.
In 1099, Pope Paschal II had a church built at the burial site.
The walnut tree was also felled in the hope that Nero's spirit would finally leave. Today, the church Santa Maria del Popolo occupies the site.
But by far the most well known legend connected to Rome has to do with the city's origins.
According to tradition, Rome was founded by the twins Romulus and Remus, who had been driven into the wilderness by their uncle the king of Alba. The twins were fostered by a female wolf.
In August 2007, the spot where the twins were cared for by the wolf is thought to have been discovered.
A grotto was discovered by a remote-controlled video camera inserted in the walls of the Temple of Apollo and the church of Sant' Anastasia.
St Peter's Basilica in the Vatican is open to the public and has for centuries been a magnet for pilgrims visiting Rome.
Located inside the basilica is the marble statue of the apostle Peter.
Countless visitors have touched the statue's feet causing its toes to disappear leaving blank stone.
Even people who are unaware of the apostle's name touch its feet as, "That brings luck," said one American tourist.
Back at the Trevi Fountain there's one more legend to learn about. The locals say anyone who throws two coins into the fountain will fall in love with a Roman.
Three coins will lead to a marriage. "I didn't know that, but I'm not against getting married to a Roman woman," says one young Canadian who has just thrown a handful of coins into the fountain.
But it's not just foreign tourists who fall for the old legend surrounding the fountain, local people are not against throwing a few coins in every so often as well.
Information: Rome Tourism, Via Parigi 11, 00185 Rome. Tel. 030/06/48 89 91, E-Mail: info@aptroma.com; Internet: www.romaturismo.it, www.rome.info.
