Rome, – from Trevi, Italy
Visiting the Trevi Fountain, the most visited monument in Rome after the Colosseum, will no longer be free from February 1st. The municipality will start charging a general entrance fee of 2 euros.
Most tourists in Rome do not miss the opportunity to photograph the Trevi Fountain. In fact, it is worth doing so – especially until January 31st when such banality will be paid.
The iconic monument, one of the few major attractions in the Eternal City with free access to date, will implement the fee for regulate the large flow of visitors.
“It is important to clarify that the fountain is visible to everyone free of charge. We are only talking about access to the area in front of the fountain”, explained the mayor of the Italian capital, Roberto Gualtieri.
Specifically, two access lanes will be createdone for tourists, who will have to pay the entrance fee, and another for residents of Rome, who will be able to access it for free.
The mayor announced, at a press conference, the introduction of a paid ticket for six monuments that were freeat a “very affordable” price.
In addition to the Trevi Fountain, the others are the Villa de Massenzio, or Museu Napoleónico, or Museu Giovanni Barracco de Escultura Antiga, or Museu Carlo Bilotti and or Museu Pietro Canonica.
“We believe that this system will not limit the experience of the Trevi Fountain, since the cost is very low, almost symbolic, just 2 euros. This will allow us reduce the crowd of tourists a little and, at the same time, generate resources to finance an important new initiative: free entry to Rome’s museums, something that we consider very important”, added the mayor.
The paid ticket will complement a measure already in force since December 22nd, which limits the simultaneous access to the square to a maximum of 400 people. This number will now be reduced to 250 to avoid overcrowding.
Os Tickets can be purchased through an online platform dedicated to advance sales, directly on site and in physical points of sale, such as museums and tourist information centers.
The implementation of this tax, a measure similar to that recently applied to the Pantheon, comes after years of debate about the need to control the large number of people who gather daily around the monument.
In the first half of this year alone, more than five million visits to the site were recorded, with a daily average of 30 thousand visitors.
Gualtieri estimated, “prudently and after deducting administrative costs”, that This measure could generate approximately 6.5 million euros annually to the city’s coffers.
The revenue obtained from the new fee will cover logistical costs and “whatever remains” will be used “for the maintenance and enhancement of the museum’s heritage, also guaranteeing security in common areas”, detailed the mayor.
