Rome's ancient Trevi fountain has long been a free attraction, but that changed last week when visitors were asked to hand over €2 as part of an effort to manage crowds and raise funds for maintenance. The move has sparked debate among tourists, locals, and history enthusiasts, with some hailing it as a necessary step to preserve the site, while others lament the introduction of a fee.
For Portuguese tourist Teresa Romero, who recently visited the fountain on her 50th birthday, paying €2 was a small price to pay for the privilege of experiencing one of Rome's most iconic landmarks. "It's normal and €2 is nothing – the price of a coffee," she said with a smile. "The most important thing is to preserve history."
However, not everyone shares Romero's perspective. For tourists from Georgia, like Irma Pavitashvili, who was asked for the fee but declined to pay, the introduction of a charge is a major disappointment. "This fountain should be for everyone," she said, shaking her head.
In contrast, Alma Peterson, a visitor from the US, agrees that charging people for the Trevi fountain is unjustified. "It's not right to charge people – this is history, it should be free."
While some visitors have expressed frustration with the new fee, Rome's tourism chief Alessandro Onorato sees it as a necessary step to manage crowds and raise funds for maintenance. "Until a year ago, visiting the Trevi fountain was an absurd experience," he said. "The €2 fee is a healthy revolution that will help us preserve this incredible site for future generations."
As tourist numbers continue to surge in Rome and across Italy, charges to visit popular sites are becoming increasingly common. The Pantheon, which has been free since 2023, now charges a €5 fee, while Venice and Verona have also introduced fees for visitors.
Whether the Trevi fountain's new fee will be seen as a necessary evil or a misguided attempt to commercialize a cultural treasure remains to be seen. One thing is certain, however – it has sparked an important conversation about the value of preserving our shared cultural heritage for future generations.
For Portuguese tourist Teresa Romero, who recently visited the fountain on her 50th birthday, paying €2 was a small price to pay for the privilege of experiencing one of Rome's most iconic landmarks. "It's normal and €2 is nothing – the price of a coffee," she said with a smile. "The most important thing is to preserve history."
However, not everyone shares Romero's perspective. For tourists from Georgia, like Irma Pavitashvili, who was asked for the fee but declined to pay, the introduction of a charge is a major disappointment. "This fountain should be for everyone," she said, shaking her head.
In contrast, Alma Peterson, a visitor from the US, agrees that charging people for the Trevi fountain is unjustified. "It's not right to charge people – this is history, it should be free."
While some visitors have expressed frustration with the new fee, Rome's tourism chief Alessandro Onorato sees it as a necessary step to manage crowds and raise funds for maintenance. "Until a year ago, visiting the Trevi fountain was an absurd experience," he said. "The €2 fee is a healthy revolution that will help us preserve this incredible site for future generations."
As tourist numbers continue to surge in Rome and across Italy, charges to visit popular sites are becoming increasingly common. The Pantheon, which has been free since 2023, now charges a €5 fee, while Venice and Verona have also introduced fees for visitors.
Whether the Trevi fountain's new fee will be seen as a necessary evil or a misguided attempt to commercialize a cultural treasure remains to be seen. One thing is certain, however – it has sparked an important conversation about the value of preserving our shared cultural heritage for future generations.
. I mean, Rome's Trevi fountain is literally one of the most iconic landmarks in the world and people are still dumping buckets of coins into it like it's a fountain of youth 
? Introducing an €2 fee to manage crowds and fund maintenance makes total sense to me 
. And honestly, €2 is nothing compared to what you'd pay for a decent coffee 
️. The fact that some people are still hating on the idea is just proof that we need more tourists respecting these historical sites 
. Rome's tourism chief Alessandro Onorato gets it 
– preserving cultural heritage for future generations is worth paying a small price for 
.
. However, it's also true that some people see visiting cultural landmarks like this as a right, rather than something to be paid for 
. What's more important is that we're thinking critically about how we can balance preservation with accessibility and affordability for everyone 
.
.
... but let's hope it doesn't become a slippery slope! 
I'm all for preserving historical landmarks, but not everyone can afford or wants to shell out extra cash for the privilege 
. It's like they say: you can't put a price on history (or can you?) 
. Maybe Rome could explore alternative solutions, like timed-entry tickets or donations instead? That way, both tourists and locals would feel included 
. Whatever happens next, it'll be interesting to see how the Trevi fountain's new fee plays out 
. I think €2 is a pretty reasonable price considering how many people visit and how old the site is. It's like paying for a museum or a national park in the US - you're helping to preserve something for everyone, not just yourself 
. I can see why some people might be upset, but €2 isn't going to break the bank 
.
... €2's a small price to pay for preserving something so iconic 
. I mean, I get that some people might be like "but it's not free!" 
but c'mon, it's just two euros! You can buy a coffee with that money 
. People always talk about how priceless history is, but sometimes you gotta pay for it, right? 
And if Rome is struggling to pay for maintenance, I'm all for a small fee. It's not like they're charging you to breathe the air or something 
. The tourism chief seems pretty reasonable too - he knows what he's talking about. Maybe this new policy will make visitors more respectful of the place and actually enjoy it instead of just taking pics 
.