Take a closer look at the Trevi Fountain, jewel of Roman baroque and destination for tourists from all over the world, and fulfilling the tradition of tossing a coin will cost 2 euros to “guarantee a unique experience” to its more than 10,000 daily visitors, a measure that, surprisingly, many tourists seem to support.
The unexpected announcement by Rome’s tourism councillor, Alessandro Onoratohas raised a storm as the Italian capital, the most visited in Europe in 2023 with 50 million tourists, prepares to welcome another 30 million in 2025 for the Jubilee. And the City Council wants to have the measure ready by then.
“We want to guarantee a unique, special and serene experience “To all visitors, who today unfortunately when they arrive at the Trevi Fountain have to deal with total chaos,” Onorato explained to Efe, stressing that the first objective of the entrance is “to protect an extraordinary monument.”
A global icon in the chaos
The famous fountain, a monumental Baroque work integrated into the façade of the Renaissance ‘Palazzo Poli’, you can still watch it for free from afarbut anyone who wants to go down the steps, look closely and throw a coin in will have to reserve a two-euro ticket, except for Romans, for whom it will remain free.
Between 10,000 to 12,000 people visit every day This fountain has become a world icon thanks to the cinema: “Tourists rush to take a selfie, others eat without worrying about not littering their surroundings, and there are those who, to make a viral video on social media, decide to jump into the water,” laments the councillor.
The fountain, built in 1762 on one of the aqueducts of ancient Rome by order of Pope Clement XII, will be accessible through an entry and an exit point in order to observe the details of the sculptural ensemble dominated by the imposing representation of the sea.
“The money raised will be dedicated to creating new jobs, as stewards and hostesses to better manage the flow of visitors, and protect the monument“, says Onorato.
A very different destination from the coins thrown by tourists from all over the world, nearly one million euros a year, confirmed to Efe sources from the City of Rome, which is donated to the humanitarian organization Caritas.
Tourists, willing to pay
Onorato confirmed to Efe that in the coming days he will meet with the mayor, Roberto Gualtieri, who have already shown their support, and with the local police to study the closure measures, while opinions are divided regarding an initiative that tourists seem to accept better than expected.
“I would pay if I had the privilege of seeing it better. Nowadays it is almost impossible to get a good view,” Linda from the Netherlands told EFE, as did Beatriz from the Spanish city of Cordoba: “It wouldn’t be so crowded.”
Italian visitors, however, complain, and Elena, from Calabria (south), argues that “anyone who visits Rome has the right to see the Trevi Fountain without having to pay.”
“They have already set up many paid places in Rome, “I find it excessive”laments Raffaella from Bergamo (north).
Towards a more sustainable tourism
The measure proposed by Onorato also aims to “tourism is more compatible with the life of the Romans and the city,” because the touristification of the historic center puts small neighborhood businesses and artisan workshops at risk.
This year, Rome will surpass the record of 50 million visitors set in 2023, and in 2025 the number of tourists will increase by another 30 million due to the Jubilee, the pilgrimage to the papal basilicas of Rome that is organised every 25 years and which has plunged the city into construction work.
“These are not random numbers, but the result of a policy based on major sporting and cultural events,” Onorato told Efe, who is also considering reducing the number of tourist rentals, which has almost doubled in Rome from 17,000 in 2018 to more than 30,000 today.
The payment to see the Trevi Fountain “must be complemented with other actions” because “tourism is fundamental for our economy, it generates wealth and jobs, but it must be made sustainable for the city, its historic centre and its residents,” he concludes.
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