‘This is history, it should be free’: Rome’s €2 Trevi fountain fee divides opinion

Teresa Romero is in Rome to celebrate a milestone birthday and one of the first things she did on Monday was visit the Trevi Fountain to participate in the ritual of tossing a coin into the waters of the late baroque masterpiece.But before the Portuguese tourist could get close to the fountain, she had to hand over €2 (£1.70) – the cost of an access fee that has finally been enacted by Rome council officials after years of discussions.“I think it’s normal and €2 is nothing – the price of a coffee,” Romero said as she left the monument. “The most important thing is to preserve history.”Workers sell tickets to enter the Trevi Fountain Photograph: Alessandro Di Meo/EPAThe aim of the charge, which applies between 11.30am and 10pm on weekdays and from 9am to 10pm at weekends, is to help authorities better manage the crowds and raise funds to pay for the fountain’s upkeep. More than 10 million people visited the Trevi in 2025 alone.The payment is only for visitors who walk down the fountain’s steps to reach the basin. They can enjoy as much time there as they please, tossing coins over their shoulders in a ritual that is said to guarantee a return to the Eternal City, and posing for selfies. They can’t eat, drink or smoke in the area of the basin. People who live in Rome are exempt from the fee, as are people with disabilities and children under the age of six.“This is a very small payment to allow us to protect the Trevi Fountain,” said Simona Ugolinelli, a councillor in charge of coordinating the measure.Paid admission is expected to draw millions in extra funding each year for the city’s conservation work. Photograph: Alessandro Di Meo/EPAThe feewas forecast to bring in €6.5m a year, money that would be used to invest in the fountain and other monuments in the Italian capital, Ugolinelli added. “It’s not as if Rome is the first city in the world to do this,” she said. “In fact, at tourist spots in other cities in the world, such fees are a lot higher. This measure will enable us to better manage tourism flows while preserving our historical assets, meaning visitors will be able to enjoy their beauty all the more.”The Trevi Fountain’s white marble sparkled under a clear blue sky on the first day of the access fee and most people appeared to pay it happily, either in cash or through contactless payment machines. Tickets can also be bought online.But there were grumbles among some. “This isn’t a good thing at all,” said Irma Pavitashvili, a tourist from Georgia, as she walked away from the monument after being asked for €2. “This fountain should be for everyone.”Alma Peterson, a visitor from the US, agreed. “It’s not right to charge people – this is history, it should be free.”As visitor numbers to Rome and across Italy rise rapidly, charges to visit popular sites that were previously free are becoming increasingly normal.Since 2023, a €5 fee has been in place at the Pantheon, which was built by the Roman emperor Hadrian and is famous for its oculus – the hole in its giant dome. “This is working very well,” said Ugolinelli.Day trippers to Venice must pay a fee to enter the city during peak season and, since December, tourists have to pay to enter the courtyard in Verona associated with Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet.