The famous Trevi Fountain in Rome reopens after weeks of cleaning work on December 22, 2024.
Starting Monday, tourists must pay a fee to visit the Trevi Fountain, one of Rome’s most famous landmarks, as part of a plan to reduce the enormous crowds around it.
Visitors must now pay 2 euros to access the area near the small pool. This measure does not apply to residents.
In recent years, tourist numbers have increased so dramatically that it has become difficult to approach and admire the fountain. Most parts of the square remain open to the public, with the fee only required for descending the stairs to the fountain’s immediate surroundings.
Many have chosen to take photos from the square itself to avoid payment. Those who purchase tickets are allowed to visit the site between 9 a.m. and 10 p.m., except on Mondays and Fridays when the site opens at 1:30 p.m.
6 Million Euros in Annual Revenue
The city estimates that this measure could generate at least six million euros annually.
It was explained that a portion of the revenue will be used to pay the salaries of staff tasked with welcoming visitors, and that the funds collected will also allow residents free entry to a number of museums in the Italian capital.
Facing the problem of massive tourist numbers, Rome is following the lead of other Italian cities like Venice, which imposed a 5-euro entry fee in 2024 on weekends during the tourist season to regulate visitor numbers and protect its heritage.
– Tourists drop masks in front of the Trevi Fountain in Rome
The Trevi Fountain was built in the 19th century BC, over a spring. Ancient Italian history recounts that the virgins of Rome would come to the spring believing their marriage wishes would be granted; hence the name Trevi, which means “virgin” in Italian.
