Rome's Iconic Trevi Fountain
Proposal to Charge Entrance Fee Only for Tourists
Aimed at Addressing Overtourism and Covering Operational Costs
The city of Rome, Italy, is considering introducing an entrance fee for the Trevi Fountain, one of its most iconic tourist attractions, starting next month.
According to the Italian daily Corriere della Sera on December 17 (local time), Alessandro Onorato, Rome’s city councilor in charge of tourism, stated during a radio broadcast that “the city of Rome is discussing a plan to charge an entrance fee for visiting the Trevi Fountain.” Under the proposed plan, the entrance fee would be set at 2 euros (approximately 3,500 won) and would apply only to tourists who do not reside in Rome, while Roman citizens would likely continue to enter for free as is currently the case. Some media outlets have reported that the fee could be implemented as early as January 7, while Corriere della Sera suggested it may begin in mid-January.
Councilor Onorato commented, “It is reasonable to pay to access the steps of the Trevi Fountain,” adding, “If the Trevi Fountain were located in the United States or elsewhere in Europe, the entrance fee would be at least 50 euros.” He further explained that “the 2-euro fee currently under consideration is a minimum amount,” and that “it may be adjusted following a trial period.” It is reported that the city of Rome will decide whether to impose the entrance fee for the Trevi Fountain, among other details, before Christmas after internal discussions.
The reason Rome is pursuing the introduction of an entrance fee for the Trevi Fountain is to address the problem of overtourism, with millions of visitors, while also covering management and operational costs. In the first half of this year alone, the number of visitors to the Trevi Fountain reached 5.3 million, surpassing the roughly 4 million annual visitors to the nearby Pantheon last year. The city of Rome estimates that if the Trevi Fountain becomes a paid attraction, it could generate approximately 20 million euros (about 3.46 billion won) in revenue.
Completed in 1762, the Trevi Fountain is considered a masterpiece of the late Baroque style and is a landmark of Rome. Designed by architect Nicola Salvi, the fountain features a grand structure standing 26 meters high and depicts figures from Greek mythology. Its name, Trevi, comes from its location at the junction of three roads (tre via). The site is famous worldwide for the tradition that “if you stand with your back to the fountain and toss a coin over your left shoulder with your right hand, you will return to Rome.” Coins thrown into the Trevi Fountain are collected three times a week, cleaned and sorted, and then donated to the Catholic charity organization Caritas.
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