Starting Feb. 1, tourists who want to get close to Rome's Trevi Fountain will have to pay a two-euro (S$3) fee, according to the city mayor, as authorities aim to increase revenue from Italy’s famous attractions. Mayor Roberto Gualtieri told reporters the new charge is expected to generate around 6.5 million euros annually.

“Two euros isn’t much … and it will help reduce chaotic tourist crowds,” Gualtieri said, emphasizing that Roman residents will still have free access to the fountain. Tourists will only be charged if they wish to step onto the stone ledges surrounding the fountain’s basin, while the adjacent square with a view of the monument remains open to all.

The Trevi Fountain, a site where visitors traditionally toss coins to ensure their return to Rome, has long drawn massive crowds, including world leaders. Completed in 1762, this late Baroque masterpiece depicts Oceanus, the god of water, symbolizing the changing moods of seas and rivers. So far this year, it has welcomed nine million visitors, suggesting many may now choose to admire it from a distance rather than pay for close access. Some tourists expressed support for the fee if it helps maintain the site. “If the money is used for upkeep, that’s fine,” said British visitor Yvonne Salustri.

Gualtieri added that five other lesser-known sites in Rome, currently free, will start charging five euros for entry in February, continuing the city’s trend of monetizing cultural landmarks. In 2023, a five-euro fee was introduced for Rome’s Pantheon, often causing crowds outside while visitors waited to enter. Similarly, Venice has a seasonal tourist entry fee, and Verona recently began charging to access the balcony linked to Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet.”