Despite itself, the Trevi Fountain in Rome has become a symbol of our time. Of course, we are talking about mass tourism. In September, we said that the influx of people to this iconic place of the eternal city was such that the City Council noted that, much like Venice, a slightly higher price increase was needed. Like? We are literally charging them to get closer. The problem is that renovations are being carried out, but the municipality’s coffers are not empty.

The first was the reservation. As we explained, the proposal just a few weeks ago included the implementation of a reservation system (free for Romans) and a tax “to restore order” was introduced at the Consultation. And this is not new. Years ago, before the pandemic, the city announced its intention to ban the consumption of food and drink at iconic spots in the city, such as the Trevi Fountain or the fountains in Piazza Spagna and Piazza Navona.

If the new measure is implemented, you will now have to reserve and pay a euro fee (unless you are Roman), in addition to throwing a few coins into the fountain to comply with tradition. The problem, as we said at the beginning, is that the residential area is undergoing renovation, but there is already a solution for this.

Throwing coins into the children’s pool. That’s how many visitors to the area describe it these days. The city has installed a small temporary pool in front of the Trevi Fountain, allowing tourists to keep the coin toss tradition alive while the iconic fountain is emptied for restoration work. Of course, raising money too.

However, the structure came under heavy criticism for its makeshift and unattractive appearance. Surrounded by a clear plastic fence and supported by an unfinished wooden base, the pool looks more like a temporary installation by Leroy Merlin than a replacement for one of Rome’s most iconic monuments. Additionally, the very high fence makes it difficult to spot coins in the water, resulting in most coins being scattered around and further emphasizing the overall messy look of the setup.

Official reason. The Roman administration justified the placement inside the fountain as “a method of protecting workers from being hit by coins accidentally thrown by tourists.” They also emphasized, which is impossible to ignore, that the coin tossing ritual generates around 1.5 million euros a year, the majority of which goes to the charity Caritas, and that they want to preserve this source of income during the renovation of the monument.

Still, the explanation did not convince critics, especially on social media, who described the pool as a “children’s pool” and an “architectural disgrace”. In fact, footage of the montage prompted sarcastic comments that pointed out that the improvised pool lacked the grandeur and nobility associated with the Trevi Fountain.

It’s a symbolic place. The truth is that the Trevi Fountain is not only a historical monument, but also a cultural symbol loaded with meaning. According to Roman legend, throwing one coin into the water guarantees a return to the city, while two or three coins guarantee a loving meeting or even marriage with a Roman.

This tradition, immortalized in numerous films and books, turns the fountain into a place of romantic pilgrimage and well-wishing for millions of visitors from around the world. In fact, the administration is making sure that the continuation of this ritual is important for local authorities, especially at a time when Rome expects large numbers of tourists to arrive in 2025, the year of the next Catholic jubilee.

Restoration. The renovation works cost an estimated 300,000 Euros and are planned to be completed before the Holy Year celebrations in 2025. During this time, a metal walkway was placed on the empty fountain, allowing tourists to come closer. and admire the fountain’s detailed statues, such as the mythological god Oceanus surrounded by his horses.

This approach, which gives a never-before-seen perspective to the fountain, was designed as a “privileged experience” that allows visitors to closely discover artistic details while restoration work continues. At the same time, Rome boasts of being the “first European city in tourist growth”, with tens of millions of overnight stays per year; But although other major destinations have proven one thing, it is that it is not always easy to cope with this tourist success. and less so with a monument like the Trevi Fountain.

Image | Pedro López

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