One of the worldâs most photographed destinations to charge a tourist fee
Ongoing antagonism over thousands of tourists descending on some of the world’s most-loved travel spots has led to one city looking to profit from one its most famous landmarks.
Source: Storyful
Tourists who want to get close to Romeâs Trevi Fountain will soon have to pay a fee, the city mayor says, âas authorities look to profit more handsomely from Italyâs many attractions.
Mayor Roberto Gualtieri told reporters tourists will be charged âŹ2 ($3.50) each from February 1, adding that the measure was expected to raise âŹ6.5 million ($11.5 million) â a year.
âTwo euros isnât very much ⌠and it will lead to less chaotic tourist flows,â Gualtieri said, stressing that citizens of Rome will continue to have free access to the fountain.
Tourists will have to pay if they want to get onto the stone steps surrounding the fountainâs basin, while the small surrounding âsquare offering a âview of the imposing monument will remain open for everyone.
The Trevi Fountain, where tradition âdictates that visitors toss a coin into the water to guarantee their return to Rome, has long been a major tourist attraction, even for visiting world leaders.
Completed in 1762, the monument is a late Baroque masterpiece depicting Oceanus, the god of all water, and symbolising the varying moods of the worldâs seas and rivers.
It âhas received nine million visitors so far this âyear, Gualtieri said, suggesting that he expected many people will opt to view the fountain from afar in future, rather than pay âto get near the water.
Visitors on Friday said they would be willing to pay if âthe money was put to good use.
âIf it means that money is used to keep it maintained, then yeah, thatâs fine,â British tourist Yvonne Salustri said.
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Gualtieri said five other relatively âunknown âsites in Rome that are currently free will âstart charging âŹ5 for access from February, continuing âthe recent trend aimed at squeezing profits from Italyâs cultural heritage.
In 2023, a âŹ5 entrance fee was introduced for Romeâs ancient Pantheon. As a result the square outside is often crammed with people waiting for their turn to pay and enter.
Venice has introduced a tourist entry-fee system during the peak travel season, while Verona this month began charging for access to the balcony in the northern Italian city that is associated with âShakespeareâs Romeo and Juliet.
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