Another tourist, Daniela Carbone described the makeshift pool as “ugly”, yet gave her children coins to toss in. “We have to please the children,” she told AP.
Local legend holds that tossing a coin into the Baroque fountain ensures a return trip to Rome, a tradition that has generated about $1.6 million every year. For the last 15 years, these funds have been donated to the Catholic charity Caritas.
Meanwhile, to manage crowds and protect the historic fountain, Rome is contemplating introducing a $2.20 entry fee. This new system is expected to be in place by spring 2025.
Under the proposed plan, tourists will need to reserve a spot and pay the fee via a QR code. This charge will only apply to those who wish to access the nine stone steps leading up to the fountain’s edge. Visitors who simply pass through the piazza overlooking the fountain will not be required to pay, nor will local residents.
The implementation of the fee aims to discourage certain behaviors that have become problematic at the site, such as eating on the steps, feeding pigeons, and reenacting Anita Ekberg’s famous plunge into the fountain from Fellini’s classic film La Dolce Vita.
The Trevi Fountain is one of Rome’s most iconic and heavily visited attractions, and officials hope that these measures will help preserve its beauty and ensure a more enjoyable experience for all visitors.
