Once a week for three weeks. Around EUR8000 is collected three times a week (on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 8am–9am when the fountain is closed to the public for cleaning and coin removal) and given to the poor from the Trevi Fountain (around $1.26 million yearly). The money comes from visitors who pay a small fee to throw coins into the fountain. If you don't have any change on you, there are vending machines where you can buy coins. The fountain was built in 1556 by Antonio da San Gallo as a tribute to Mary Magdalene. It originally contained more than 7500 pounds of bronze and was about 30 feet wide and 22 feet deep. But after two centuries of use, the fountain is now only 3 feet wide and 9 inches high because most of the water has been drained off for protection against pollution. Although it is not visible from the street, the fountain's basin is actually located under the sidewalk between Via del Corso and Via di Ponte Mammolo in central Rome. During the day, people sit on the curb or stand on the opposite side of the street to watch the tourists throw coins into the fountain. At night, the area is crowded with prostitutes who seek out wealthy men standing in line at the Trevi Fountain waiting to toss them a coin.