Access to the Trevi Fountain in Rome will require payment from January

Rome , a city accustomed to living with millions of visitors, is preparing for a historic change in one of its most emblematic spaces: the Trevi Fountain .

From January 7, 2026 , access to the Trevi Fountain will no longer be completely free for tourists. Those wishing to visit the monument will have to pay 2 euros , while Rome residents will continue to enjoy free entry.

The measure seeks to address one of the most urgent challenges facing contemporary European tourism : overtourism , as explained by Report News .

The second most visited site in Rome

The Trevi Fountain , a masterpiece of Italian Baroque and a universal symbol of the Italian capital, is the second most visited site in Rome , second only to the Colosseum .

In the first six months of 2025 , more than 5.3 million tourists passed through this nerve center of the historic center, a figure that reflects the constant pressure on the urban and heritage space.

The introduction of a paid access system marks a profound change in how Rome manages its most popular monuments. The initiative aligns with recent policies implemented in other European cities, such as Venice 's entry fee , which also aims to regulate tourist flows and protect the daily lives of its residents.

Discussions about the need to regulate the area around the Trevi Fountain began last year, following a series of incidents that highlighted the deteriorating experience for both visitors and residents. These included tourists illegally entering the fountain , a prohibited practice that not only jeopardizes the monument's preservation but also reflects a lack of control in an overcrowded space.

Faced with this scenario, the municipality of Rome approved a comprehensive reorganization of the area , with the aim of restoring the balance between tourist enjoyment, heritage conservation and quality of urban life.

Two runners at the Trevi Fountain

One of the pillars of the new scheme will be the creation of two separate corridors : one exclusively for tourists and another intended for Roman residents .

These routes will be delimited by posts , which will replace the current barriers and allow for a more orderly and safe circulation.

The measure aims to reduce overcrowding , improve the visitor experience and ensure smoother traffic flow in one of the most congested areas of the historic center.

Access payment can also be made by card , simplifying the process and avoiding additional delays.

The money collected from the entrance ticket will be used entirely for the conservation and operation of the Trevi Fountain. According to estimates published by Corriere della Sera , the system could generate around 20 million euros annually , depending on visitor numbers, which are currently at record levels.

This approach seeks to transform the impact of mass tourism into a source of sustainable financing , capable of ensuring the maintenance of one of the most photographed monuments in the world without depending exclusively on public funds.

Trevi Fountain: A precedent for other monuments?

If the implementation of paid access is successful, it could pave the way for new regulations at other iconic locations in the city.

The debate is already underway: how to protect heritage, manage tourist flows , and ensure that Rome remains a livable city, not just a stage for visitors.

The Trevi Fountain , famous for the ritual of throwing a coin into it to ensure a safe return to the Eternal City, has now become a symbol of a new era for Italy's capital. An era in which tourism in the city, far from being unlimited, is beginning to be considered according to criteria of responsibility, sustainability, and urban coexistence .

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