Rome's Trevi Fountain reopens to limited crowds

Rome’s iconic Trevi Fountain reopened on Sunday following a three-month restoration project aimed at preserving the baroque masterpiece ahead of the Catholic Church’s Jubilee celebrations in 2025.

To prevent overcrowding, city authorities have introduced a temporary visitor limit of 400 people at a time, Mayor Roberto Gualtieri announced during the reopening ceremony. The restriction is designed to enhance the experience for tourists, with adjustments to the limit possible in the future.

"We want everyone to enjoy the fountain without the chaos of large crowds," Gualtieri stated. He also mentioned that the city is considering a small entry fee to help fund the fountain’s maintenance.

The restoration, which focused on removing mold and calcium deposits, is part of a broader cleanup of Rome’s cultural landmarks. Claudio Parisi Presicce, the city’s superintendent for cultural heritage, explained that the initiative aims to prepare key monuments for the influx of visitors expected during the Jubilee, which begins on 24 December 2025.

The Trevi Fountain, immortalized in Federico Fellini’s film La Dolce Vita, is one of Rome’s most visited attractions. In normal times, it draws between 10,000 and 12,000 visitors daily. Tossing coins into the fountain — a tradition believed to bring good luck — has also provided significant funds for the city, with approximately €10,000 ($10,500) collected weekly and donated to the Caritas charity to support the poor.

Despite the rain, hundreds of tourists attended Sunday’s reopening, many of whom followed the custom of throwing a coin into the freshly restored fountain.

With an estimated 33 million visitors expected for the Jubilee, Rome’s authorities are ramping up efforts to ensure the city’s monuments, including the Trevi Fountain, are in pristine condition for the religious and cultural celebrations.