Rome has begun charging tourists 2 euros to step down to the Trevi Fountain’s basin area, a measure aimed at easing overtourism and funding maintenance.
The new rule came into force on Monday and applies only to those walking down the stone steps to get close to the Trevi Fountain. Visitors can still access the surrounding square for free, maintaining open views of one of the city’s busiest landmarks.
Under the schedule set by city authorities, the fee is collected from 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. on weekdays and from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. on weekends. Exemptions cover Rome residents, people with disabilities and their companions, and children under six.
Argentine visitor Valentina De Vicentis said she was unaware of the charge but supported the move, noting that thinner crowds made the experience more pleasant. She said the reduced numbers allowed people to take photographs and spend more time at the site.
City officials say the fountain drew more than 10 million visitors between December 2024 and December 2025, a period overlapping with the Catholic Holy Year that brought an estimated 33.5 million pilgrims to Rome.
Completed in 1762 and fed by an ancient aqueduct, the late Baroque monument depicts Oceanus, the god of all water, represented through shifting moods of seas and rivers.
The site has a deep place in popular culture, including the famous sequence in Federico Fellini's film "La Dolce Vita", in which Anita Ekberg calls Marcello Mastroianni into the water.
Italy has increasingly introduced access charges at major cultural sites to manage crowds and support preservation. These include the Pantheon, the city of Venice during peak season, and the Verona courtyard linked to Shakespeare’s "Romeo and Juliet".
Here's your AnewZ Daily Brief for the 9th of November 2026. From a spy investigation shaking Silicon Valley to rising geopolitical tensions, th...
A passport application might seem an ordinary administrative request. For Sheikh Hasina, Bangladesh's ousted prime minister, it could mark the ...
Nvidia has launched an independent investigation into whether its chief executive, Jensen Huang, was targeted in a foreign intelligence operat...
Poland has declared two days of national mourning after a gunman opened fire in Kraków's historic main square. Investigators are examining possible far-right influences and the discovery of three bodies at the suspect's home.
Monday marks the second of two days of national mourning in Poland as police bolstered security after six people were killed in a mass shooting in Kraków.
The Saudi-led coalition fighting Yemen's Houthis said it intercepted and destroyed two ballistic missiles fired by the Iran-aligned group towards Riyadh on Sunday (8 November), after loud booms were heard in the Saudi capital. The Aramco building was damaged by falling debris.
New Zealand’s ruling centre-right National Party has taken a narrow lead over the opposition Labour Party in Saturday’s general election, with the country’s current three-party coalition projected to retain power.
Azerbaijan is marking the sixth anniversary of Victory Day on Sunday, 8 November, with President Ilham Aliyev visiting the Victory Monument in Khankendi, laying a wreath and paying tribute to servicemen killed during the 44-day Second Garabagh War in 2020.
A village in Indonesia’s Gorontalo province has become a tourist destination for whale shark encounters, bringing new income to local residents but raising concerns about the impact of feeding and frequent human interaction on the endangered species.
Azerbaijan's first Gabala Gastronomy Summit has brought chefs, local producers and international experts together to explore how traditional cuisine can attract tourists, extend stays and strengthen the region's appeal as a year-round destination.
Azerbaijan Airlines (AZAL) carried 419,000 connecting passengers through Baku in the first nine months of 2026, up 29 per cent year on year, highlighting the capital's growing role as an international aviation hub.
Azerbaijan is seeking to attract more European visitors by improving air connectivity and raising its profile as an international tourism destination, with a new direct route between Brussels and Baku expected to support those efforts.
Saudi Arabia is opening up to more international travellers as tourism expands beyond religious travel. In Riyadh, historic landmarks stand alongside new developments and a rapidly changing skyline, while AlUla and Diriyah offer a glimpse into the kingdom’s heritage.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment