The Trevi Fountain in Rome may soon introduce an entry fee. The idea was initially suggested by the Councillor for Sport, Tourism, Fashion, and Major Events, Alessandro Onorato, and later confirmed by Mayor Roberto Gualtieri. Access to the most famous of Rome’s fountains, commissioned by Pope Clement XII, may become controlled and time-limited, with a booking system: free for Romans and with a symbolic charge of one euro for tourists.
The Trevi Fountain, famously featured in Federico Fellini’s iconic film La Dolce Vita, is undoubtedly one of the most visited open-air monuments in the capital. In fact, the influx of tourists has become almost unsustainable, leading to what is now referred to as ‘overtourism’. To better manage visitor flow and prevent loitering, the Tourism and Major Events Councillor has proposed implementing a kind of entry limit for the famous fountain. This proposal was first suggested in the summer of 2023 and has resurfaced in recent discussions.
Trevi Fountain: timed access being considered
“I would propose studying a new controlled and timed access,” said Onorato, “with a booking system: free for Romans and with a symbolic charge of one euro for tourists.” This suggestion has been confirmed by the Mayor of Rome. “I confirm,” Gualtieri said, during a torchlit march in support of the Santa Lucia Foundation, as reported by Ansa, “that we are considering this idea. We are studying the best technical solution to manage tourist flows, not only for the protection of the Trevi Fountain itself, which must be safeguarded, but also more generally to ensure the quality of the experience for visitors from around the world, who rightly want to enjoy the beauty and wonder of this fountain.”
According to the Rome section of Corriere della Sera, the proposal seems to have gained the approval of the Italian Minister of Tourism, Daniela Santanchè, who emphasised: "We need to capitalise on our treasures, so charging an entry fee and creating a booking system, rather than a restricted entry, is a good idea to manage visitor flows and provide better and more sustainable services to tourists." The key, she added, is that the city "must then have the ability to ensure proper checks and adherence to the rules."
Romolo Guasco, the director of Rome's Confcommercio (General Confederation of Commerce), also expressed his support: "Visiting the Trevi Fountain is difficult; you can no longer fully appreciate it. However, any controlled access must be well-executed. There are successful examples in Italy, though almost all in enclosed environments: from Leonardo's The Last Supper in Milan to the Borghese Gallery in Rome. It certainly needs to be studied in terms of technology and visitor capacity."
About the Trevi Fountain
As explained on Rome's official tourism website, the construction of the current Trevi Fountain is owed to Pope Clement XII, who, in 1732, held a competition involving the greatest artists of the time. The design of architect Nicola Salvi was chosen from the various submissions. The construction was later completed by Giuseppe Pannini.
The fountain is set against Palazzo Poli and is dominated by a central statue of Oceanus guiding a shell-shaped chariot, drawn by an angry horse and a calm horse, both reined in by two tritons.
There is a well-known legend about the Trevi Fountain: it is said that if you throw a coin into the fountain before leaving Rome, you are certain to return to the Eternal City. This is why, when you go to admire it, you will notice a vast collection of coins thrown into the water by tourists visiting the capital. The coins are collected by employees and then managed by the Roman branch of the Caritas charity to fund projects and initiatives.