Hey fellow travel geeks! It’s been a while since I last posted on WriteTravelGeek.com, but what better way to kick things back into gear than with this stunning shot I snapped of the iconic Trevi Fountain in Rome?
Big news buzzing around: Starting February 1, 2026, tourists will need to pay a €2 fee to access the closest viewing area around the fountain’s basin – think the steps and coin-tossing zone. Locals get in free, and the money will help with maintenance and crowd control. This comes as Rome grapples with overtourism, but it’s a small price for such a masterpiece.
A bit of history: The Trevi Fountain was commissioned in 1730 by Pope Clement XII and designed by architect Nicola Salvi, though it was completed in 1762 by Giuseppe Pannini after Salvi’s death. It’s built at the end of the ancient Acqua Vergine aqueduct, one of Rome’s oldest water sources, and features dramatic sculptures symbolizing the sea’s power. The central figure is Oceanus, the Titan god of the ocean, standing triumphantly amid tritons, horses, and cascading waters that represent the moods of the sea.
Fun fact: Legend has it that tossing a coin over your left shoulder into the fountain ensures you’ll return to Rome – and the coins collected (over €1 million annually!) are donated to charity to help feed the city’s needy.
Will this new €2 entry fee change your plans for visiting the Trevi Fountain? Would you still go, or does it feel like one more barrier in a crowded city? Let me know your thoughts by posting a comment below – I’d love to hear from you and get the conversation going!
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