Rome to Introduce Tourist Entry Fee for Trevi Fountain
The city of Rome has confirmed that it will introduce an entry fee for tourists visiting the iconic Trevi Fountain, starting from February 1, 2026. The fee, which will be €2 per person, is aimed at managing the large crowds that gather at the landmark every day. According to the city’s mayor, Roberto Gualtieri, the move is designed to improve the visitor experience and protect the monument from the negative effects of mass tourism.
The Trevi Fountain, which attracts around 30,000 visitors per day, will remain free to access for Rome residents. However, tourists will be required to pay the entry fee to get close to the monument. The fee will be used to generate revenue for the city, with an estimated annual income of €6.5 million. This is in addition to the €1.5 million that is already generated from coins thrown into the fountain by visitors, which goes to the Caritas charity.
Other Attractions to Introduce Entry Fees
In addition to the Trevi Fountain, five other cultural attractions in Rome will also introduce entry fees for tourists from February 1, 2026. These include the Villa of Maxentius, the Napoleonic Museum, the Carlo Baracco Museum, the Pilotti Museum, and the Pietro Canonica Museum. The move is part of a broader effort to manage tourism in the city and protect its cultural heritage.
According to Gualtieri, the entry fee system is necessary to limit the crowds and mass tourism that can damage the city’s monuments and degrade the visitor experience. The city authorities have stressed that no barriers will be installed in the piazza, and that the entry fee and queuing system will only apply to the steps leading down to the fountain’s basin.
Criticism and Precedent
The introduction of the entry fee has been met with criticism from some quarters, including the Italian consumer watchdog Codacons. The organization has argued that the move is “against the monetization” of cultural sites and that tourists should be able to enjoy the beauty of Rome for free. However, Codacons has also acknowledged that it is necessary to limit crowds and mass tourism, which can create degradation and deface the capital’s heritage.
Italy’s culture ministry introduced a €5 entry fee at the Pantheon in 2023, which has been seen as a precedent for the introduction of entry fees at other cultural attractions in Rome. The Trevi Fountain is under the jurisdiction of the Italian capital, and the city authorities have argued that the entry fee is necessary to manage the large crowds that gather at the landmark.
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