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".
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A widening conflict involving Iran, the United States and Israel has triggered escalating military strikes across the Middle East, disrupted shipping through the strategic Strait of Hormuz and raised concerns over global energy supplies. This live report tracks the latest developments.
Iran says it is open to talks with countries seeking safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz - disrupted by recent attacks - as Israel continues to launch wide‑scale strikes on Iranian infrastructure in the west. This live report tracks the latest developments.
North Korea fired what appeared to be a ballistic missile on Saturday (14 March), Japanese and South Korean officials said. The development comes amid the joint annual U.S.-South Korea "Freedom Shield" military drills and South Korean Prime Minister Kim Min-seok's visit to Washington.
Ukrainian drones struck an oil refinery and a key port in Russia’s southern Krasnodar region overnight (13-14 March), local authorities said, causing injuries and damage. In separate action, Russian air attacks on Ukrainian territory killed and wounded civilians near Kyiv, officials reported.
The escalating conflict between the U.S., Israel and Iran is already hitting the Middle East travel and tourism sector hard, with the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) estimating losses of at least $600 million per day in international visitor spending.
A towering lava fountain from Kilauea shot about 400 metres into the air late on Tuesday (11 March) on Hawaii Island, prompting temporary closures at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park and part of a key highway as volcanic ash and debris fell over nearby areas.
Emirates and Etihad Airways were resuming limited flight schedules to key global cities from their United Arab Emirates hubs on Friday (6 March), though the ongoing threat of missile fire piled pressure on airlines.
Air fares between Asia and Europe have surged after major Gulf hubs, including Dubai, partially reopened following closures linked to the conflict between Israel, the U.S. and Iran. Airlines are still rerouting flights around restricted airspace, cutting economy seat supply and pushing up prices.
Global air travel remained in turmoil on Monday after U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran and retaliatory strikes in the Gulf region prompted widespread airspace closures across the Middle East, disrupting one of the world’s most important aviation corridors.
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