Rome to Charge Fee for Trevi Fountain Access

Rome will charge a fee to get close to its world-famous Trevi Fountain. From February, visitors will have to pay two euros to get close to it. Rome wants to deal with the growing numbers of sightseers at the sight. The famous fountain is suffering because of overtourism. There is a lot of congestion in the summer. Crowds and people taking selfies are damaging the ambiance. Visitors have also damaged the stonework surrounding the fountain. Rome's mayor said the fee could raise $7.6 million a year. He said 30,000 people visited the attraction every day this year. That is over ten million visitors. City residents will not have to pay the fee. The mayor said: "Culture is a fundamental right of citizenship. The citizens of Rome can enjoy our museums free of charge." The fountain was completed in 1762. It depicts the god of all water, and symbolizes the wild force of the world's seas and rivers.