Anyone visiting Rome over the next few weeks will be able to experience The Trevi Fountain, one of its most iconic landmarks, from a walkway.
Just 130 visitors at a time can use the walkway
For the first time since 2014, the 18th-century Trevi Fountain, that iconic Roman monument which is high on every visitor’s bucket list, is getting a refresh. The majestic fountain has been drained and cordoned off so they can clean away the grime, weeds and calcium deposits that have built up over the years. A temporary walkway has been installed to allow visitors to admire it up close, with just up to 130 visitors at a time being allowed access to the platform for a good view of the fountain.
Will visitors have to pay to see the Trevi Fountain?
The Capitoline Superintendency, which is leading the restoration, says the reason for the works is to protect the fountain’s stability by cleaning the stonework, especially around the lower part of the fountain, and repairing the joints. And there is even talk of managing future crowding at the iconic monument by introducing an online booking system. Tickets, it is being rumoured, will cost €2 for a dedicated 30-minute viewing slot. This inovation is thought to be planned for early next year, perhaps also with regards to the huge numbers of visitors expected during the 2025 Holy Jubilee Year.
Coins are now allowed to be tossed into a tank
Apparently many visitors are expressing their disappointment at discovering that coin-throwing is not allowed from the temporary walkway. But a special tank - dubbed Rome’s municipal swimming pool – has been installed for anyone who wants to keep up the tradition of tossing coins, which is said to guarantee that they will return to Rome one day.
