Rome offers a tour fee for some visitors to the Trevi fountain

Tourists visiting the Trevi Fountain will now pay more than a legendary coin tossed over their shoulder to get an Instagrammable selfie in front of one of the world’s most famous water features.

As of Feb. 1, the city of Rome charges 2 euros, or $2.35, for visitors to approach the fountain during the day. The view of those looking at the late Baroque masterpiece from the piazza above is always relaxing.

The tourist fee announced on Friday is part of the Eternal City’s efforts to control the flow of tourists in the most congested part of the city, improve the experience and reduce the maintenance costs of preserving all of Rome’s cultural heritage. Officials estimate it could bring the city $7.6 million a year.

The fee, which has been discussed and debated for more than a year, follows a similar system for tickets to Rome’s Pantheon monument.

In such cases, city residents are not charged. It’s the same in Trevi, while a tourist tax and a 5-euro or roughly $6 visitor ticket fee at some of the city’s museums are waived in line with a plan to increase the number of free museums for registered Rome residents.

“We believe that culture is a fundamental right of citizenship,” said Rome Mayor Roberto Gualtieri at a press conference. “We think it is right and good that the citizens of Rome can enjoy our museums for free.”

At the same time, he said, Trevi’s tourist fee is a small amount that should not discourage tourists, but rather allow for organized visits. The city decided to enforce it after seeing good results already from a year-long study to move and limit the number of visitors who can reach the edge of the front hole of the fountain by placing lines and a way to get in and out.

So far this year, about 9 million people have waited in line to get that intimate visit, and some days more than 70,000 pass through, Gualtieri said. That system is now permanent from 9 am-9 pm, with fees to be paid by non-residents. Visitors can pay in advance online, while waiting in line or by purchasing tickets at tourist centers around town.

After dark, access is open and free.

Pope Urban VIII first authorized this fountain in 1640. In 1730, Pope Clement XII renewed the work and the current fountain corresponds to the original designs of the Roman architect Nicola Salvi.

The high fountain is visible to the Titan god surrounded by waterfalls that descend from the travertine rocks in the turquoise blue pool, where Marcello Mastroianni and Anita Ekberg famously soaked the night “La Dolce Vita.”

Although bathing is forbidden today, legend has it that tourists who throw a coin over their shoulders and make a wish will return to Rome.

European officials have sought to curb over-tourism resident protests who say that more tourists make cities harder to live in. Last year, Venice became the first city impose a tax on day-trippers. An increase in viral incidents, including a woman riding in the Trevi Fountain to fill his water bottle and a British man he recorded the names of himself and his girlfriends at the Colosseum, also drew attention to the issue.

“These tourists can also destroy them, because they do not respect our cultural heritage, which is not only Italian, but the whole country,” said Daniela Santanchè, who is the minister of tourism in Italy. at that time. “We introduced a bill with a very simple concept: You break it, you pay for it.”