English Corner
Trevi Fountain to get footbridge and protection fee
Access to the legendary Trevi Fountain, one of the most famous landmarks in Rome, will be drastically restricted in 2025 during the Roman Catholic Jubilee Year – and that could just be the beginning.
At a press conference, Rome's mayor Roberto Gualtieri announced further changes: in addition to extraordinary restoration work, a horseshoe-shaped walkway will be built directly into the fountain basin within a month.
This walkway, which will be accessible to visitors, marks the beginning of a new era: a fee for access to the basin is already on the cards.
Despite all the changes, one tradition remains
As soon as the work is completed, access will be strictly controlled in time for the start of the anniversary year. According to Mayor Gualtieri, the collection of a ‘small contribution’ for visiting the fountain will also be considered at a later stage.
According to the «Standard», an ancient tradition remains intact: visitors can still toss a coin into the Trevi Fountain, but now they must do so from a basket on the footbridge. This ensures the custom of returning to Rome is upheld.
With three million visitors annually, the baroque Trevi Fountain is one of the world’s most iconic landmarks. It is also frequently targeted by unauthorized activities, particularly in the hot summer months when the basin is often misused for spontaneous cooling.
Next year, there is likely to be an even greater rush of visitors than usual: a total of 30 million pilgrims are expected to arrive in the city to celebrate the Catholic Jubilee Year, which begins on 24 December 2024.