Rome is considering restricting access to the iconic Trevi Fountain, one of its most popular landmarks, as the city prepares for an expected surge in tourism, officials have announced. This comes ahead of the 2025 Jubilee, a year-long Roman Catholic event anticipated to draw 32 million visitors to the Eternal City.
According to draft plans, visitors would need to book in advance, with specific time slots and a limited number of people allowed on the steps surrounding the fountain. The measure is aimed at managing overcrowding, a challenge faced by other popular destinations like Barcelona and Venice, where local authorities have introduced entry fees to combat overtourism.
“We are considering making it free for Romans, while non-residents would be asked to make a small contribution, around one or two euros ($1.10–$2.20),” said Rome’s tourism councillor, Alessandro Onorato, in an interview with Il Messaggero on Thursday.
On Wednesday, Mayor Roberto Gualtieri described the possibility of limiting tourist numbers as “a very real option.”
“The situation at the Trevi Fountain is becoming increasingly difficult to manage,” he told reporters.
The Trevi Fountain, completed in 1762, is a stunning example of late Baroque architecture, featuring statues of Tritons guiding Oceanus in a shell chariot, symbolizing the taming of the waters. Beyond its artistic value, the fountain holds cultural significance, with the tradition of tossing coins into its waters to ensure a return to Rome.
It also gained cinematic fame in Federico Fellini’s La Dolce Vita, when actress Anita Ekberg famously waded into the fountain, calling to her co-star, Marcello Mastroianni, with the iconic line: “Marcello! Come here!”