August M
One of Europe’s most iconic landmarks is about to change how visitors experience it. Faced with overwhelming crowds, Rome is introducing a measure that signals a wider shift in how major tourist sites are managed.
From early next year, access to the site will no longer be unrestricted.
New entry rule
From 1 February, visitors to the Trevi Fountain will be charged an entrance fee of two euros, Italian broadcaster Rai reported.
The move is intended to manage the intense congestion that has built up around the landmark.
Around 30,000 people visit the fountain every day, turning the narrow approach into what officials see as an unmanageable bottleneck. Rome’s city government plans to regulate access using controlled entry points.
“There are such large crowds now that it has become a battle of everyone against everyone,” said TV 2 News correspondent Eva Ravnbøl.
Managing the crowds
According to Ravnbøl, the pressure has grown as tourism in Rome has surged, while the physical layout around the fountain leaves little room to absorb large numbers.
“Trevi is located in the middle of Rome, and there is a bottleneck leading to the fountain. Now they are trying to manage the queue according to the same model that is familiar from airports,” she said.
The system will limit how many visitors can access the area at a time, with the aim of reducing chaos and improving safety.
Money and meaning
The fee is also expected to generate significant revenue. With visitor numbers unchanged, Rome estimates it could collect about €6.5m a year from the fountain alone.
Wider pressure
Italy has increasingly grappled with the impact of mass tourism. Venice introduced an entrance fee on selected days in 2024, and Rome plans to introduce symbolic charges at five other attractions.
When announcing the Trevi measure, Rome’s mayor Roberto Gualtieri told Reuters that “two euros is not very much and it will lead to less chaotic tourist flows”.
Tourism numbers continue to rise. After hosting 32 million visitors in 2022, Rome is expected to welcome around 38 million this year.
“I know an elderly lady and her family who live in the middle of the city by the parliament,” Ravnbøl said. “And she can’t get out of her front door because there are tourists everywhere.”
Romans themselves will be exempt from the new fee.
Sources: TV 2 News, Rai, Reuters
