Enhancing the Trevi Fountain Experience
The Trevi Fountain has officially reopened its doors to the public after undergoing a thorough cleaning process that lasted several weeks. In an effort to provide a more enjoyable experience for visitors, the municipality of Rome has implemented a new system to manage the number of people visiting the fountain at the same time.
Managing Visitor Numbers
According to Roberto Gualtieri, the mayor of Rome, a maximum of 400 people will be allowed to visit the fountain simultaneously. This decision aims to prevent overcrowding and ensure that everyone can appreciate the beauty of the fountain without any hassle. The mayor emphasized that this number may be subject to change after a trial period, although the exact duration of this period has not been specified.
Potential Entrance Fee
Gualtieri also mentioned that the municipality is considering introducing a small entrance fee to help finance the maintenance of the fountain. This move is part of a broader effort to restore and preserve the city’s cultural heritage.
Restoration Work
Claudio Parisi Presicce, the head of cultural assets at the Rome City Council, explained that the restoration work on the Trevi Fountain is part of a larger project to restore municipal monuments before the start of the Jubilee of the Catholic Church on December 24. The restoration work at the Trevi Fountain took three months to complete and involved a thorough cleaning, removal of degradation elements, weeds, and limescale.
A Traditional Ceremony
The reopening ceremony took place on a rainy day, with hundreds of tourists in attendance. Many of them followed the mayor’s lead by throwing a coin into the fountain, a traditional gesture that is believed to bring good luck. On average, the fountain attracts 10,000 to 12,000 visitors per day, with authorities collecting around 10,000 euros per week, which is donated to the charity Caritas.