Planning that iconic coin toss at Rome’s Trevi Fountain? Get ready for a small change in your travel budget! Starting February 1st, visitors hoping to get up close and personal with the magnificent Baroque masterpiece during prime daylight hours will need to pay a 2-euro (about $2.35) fee.
Don’t worry, the breathtaking view from the piazza above is still absolutely free. This new fee, announced by the Eternal City, is part of a bigger plan to manage the massive crowds, enhance the visitor experience, and help maintain Rome’s incredible cultural heritage. Officials believe it could bring in an extra $7.6 million annually – funds crucial for preserving treasures like Trevi.
This isn’t Rome’s first rodeo with managing tourism. A similar ticketing system is already in place at the Pantheon, and cities like Venice have also introduced tourist taxes. Good news for locals: Roman residents are exempt, as Mayor Roberto Gualtieri emphasizes that culture is a fundamental right for citizens. For them, more museums will even become free!
The Trevi fee comes after a successful year-long experiment using lines and pathways to organize the millions who flock to the fountain. This system, now permanent from 9 AM to 9 PM, will include the new charge for non-residents. You can pay online, in line, or at tourist spots. After nightfall, access remains gloriously free.
While a dip like Anita Ekberg in ‘La Dolce Vita’ is a no-go these days, the legend of tossing a coin for a guaranteed return to Rome lives on. This small fee aims to ensure this global treasure remains stunning for future generations, tackling issues of overtourism and even vandalism that have plagued popular sites. It’s a small price to pay to help preserve a piece of history that belongs to us all.
Source: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/trevi-fountain-tourist-fee-rome-italy/
