As a result Bernini was unable to get the marble and travertine he needed from this rich source, but it did not cause him to give up on the project he had undertaken. During 1641-1643, Bernini destroyed many houses for the façade, although he did not destroy the ancient trough. He began to build his large façade where it stands now. He moved the location because it was the place where it sits now because the Pope wanted to be able to view the fountain from the Quirinale Palace, another reason was the new position actually allowed Bernini to enlarge the square, and give him a greater area in which to design the Trevi Fountain.
The actual design for Bernini’s Trevi fountain is as famous as it is unknown. The architect had created a colossal plan costing a lot of money. Besides the 6,000 scudi given by the Capitoline Authorities, as well as the materials taken free of cost from the Tomb of Cecilia Metella, it was also decreed that all of those citizens who lived near the Trevi Fountain had to pay as well, giving Bernini an additional 30,000 scudi to use to create the design Bernini wanted. At this point Bernini had 32,000 scudi, as well as much of the needed materials. This project was obviously a huge deal, because ten years later he would only spend 29,000 on the famous Four Rivers Fountain. This project must have covered at least the same amount of space that Nicola Salvi actually used for the fountain.
More clues can be gleamed about the Bernini design from two drawings, one by Cruyl in 1665 and a more contemporary design by Falda. Both drawing show a large base with a lightly outlined semi-circle set against a wall between the little Palazzo Schiavo to the left and the Palazzo Vitelleschi to the right. Water poured from the fountain in three places. The base shape makes it possible that a niche would be added at some later date. Water falls into a wide semicircular basin that features a border with three openings where the water flows into another basin. If these drawings are a true representation of the Bernini Fountain, then the fountain, itself, was no so huge, so he must have planned on a large backdrop. This consisted of two wings framing the fountain setting, this is the only explanation for the 36,000 scudi he had for the fountain.
The only other sketch was the design mentioned earlier. This was not placed into competition with the design by Bernini for two fundamental reasons. The fountain was going to be built on the old site, as della Porta had planned, because his designs were available to whoever created the design now being discussed.
