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Entrance Fee Proposed for Trevi Fountain Amid Renovations
Rome’s iconic Trevi Fountain has recently introduced a temporary suspended walkway, allowing visitors an up-close view while the landmark undergoes important maintenance. This installation was revealed on Saturday, coinciding with the fountain’s cleaning efforts aimed at removing accumulated limestone deposits and grime.
The Trevi Fountain, a stunning Baroque creation adorning the facade of a palace, ranks among Rome’s most frequented attractions. Tourists often jostle through the crowds to toss coins into its waters as part of a cherished tradition.
While the fountain is closed for necessary upkeep, the newly installed walkway can accommodate approximately 130 visitors at a time. This design is intended to provide a more enjoyable experience, minimizing issues caused by overcrowding. Rome’s mayor, Roberto Gualtieri, emphasized that this initiative aims to allow everyone to appreciate the fountain from an extraordinary viewpoint, revealing elements not typically visible from standard vantage points.
Renovation works on the fountain include cleaning the lower stone sections and resealing the joints, with officials projecting the project to be completed by year-end. Currently, the fountain is partially obscured by nets due to the ongoing maintenance, with a rectangular basin installed to deter coin tossing during this period.
Some early visitors, such as Franck Petretto from France, expressed their delight with the viewing experience from the walkway, describing the perspective as “wonderful and very, very beautiful.” Petretto noted the impressive architectural details, even in the absence of flowing water. Similarly, Micaela di Caterina, visiting from Argentina, found the close-up sight of Oceanus and his sea horses “incredible,” though she remarked that walking across the fountain felt “kind of weird.”
In the lead-up to the renovations, a plastic barrier and a small, temporary pool were placed in front of the fountain, resulting in mixed reactions from tourists. While some voiced disappointment over the aesthetic of this makeshift addition, the tradition of throwing coins into the fountain continues. One tourist shared that despite its appearance, she gave her children coins to toss in.
The lore surrounding the Trevi Fountain suggests that tossing a coin ensures a return visit to Rome, a practice that generates an estimated $1.6 million annually. For the past 15 years, these proceeds have been donated to the Catholic charity Caritas.
In order to effectively manage the large crowds that flock to this historical site each year, city officials are now contemplating introducing an entrance fee. Plans include implementing an online booking system that would require visitors to pay a nominal fee of 2 euros to access the area around the fountain.
Source
www.cbsnews.com