video transcript

Famous the world-over for Fellini's classic 1960 film La Dolce Vita, Rome's Trevi Fountain is one of the capital's tourist hot spots. But the years have caught up with the 18th century baroque monument, and the fading facade is need of a facelift. Cue designer Karl Lagerfeld - artistic director of Italian fashion house Fendi, who are picking up the tab for the restoration. SOUNDBITE: Karl Lagerfeld, saying: "I think it's a great idea, it's a great project it's a famous fountain, it's famous in the world and it's a symbol of Rome like the Colosseum of St. Peter's." The Fendi funded restoration will be the most thorough since the Trevi was completed in 1762. It is expected to cost just under 3 million dollars and take 20 months to complete. Tourists need not worry though as only a third of the fountain will be covered up at any one time, meaning they will still be able to toss coins into the basin, in a tradition said to ensure that they will return to Rome.