The extraordinary maintenance of Rome’s Trevi Fountain, one of the world’s most famous landmarks, concluded on Sunday. The restoration, which began on October 7, was timed to prepare the fountain for the Jubilee Year, a holy year celebrated periodically by the Catholic Church since 1300, set to officially begin on Tuesday, December 24. While a temporary walkway allowed visitors to view the fountain during the works, access has now been restored to the lower part of the square, with a maximum of 400 visitors permitted at a time.
The restoration, funded with €327,000 from the PNRR-Caput Mundi program, is part of a €500 million initiative to enhance Rome and Lazio’s cultural heritage for the Jubilee. The temporary walkway has been removed, and visitors can now reach the fountain directly via the staircase, exiting through a dedicated passage near Via dei Crociferi. Staff will oversee access and enforce the visitor cap to protect the monument.
Visitors can access the fountain daily from 9 a.m., except Mondays and Fridays when entry begins at 11 a.m. to allow for the collection of coins tossed into the fountain—a tradition temporarily moved to a basin during the restoration. Final entry with limited capacity is at 8:30 p.m., after which access becomes unrestricted. Prohibitions remain in place: sitting on the fountain’s edge, eating, drinking, and smoking are not allowed. However, the upper square, home to shops and other activities, remains freely accessible.
Rome’s Mayor Roberto Gualtieri noted that the 400-person limit may be revised based on initial results and hinted at a potential entry fee for the fountain, a proposal under discussion for years. While the idea has sparked debate, proponents argue it could enhance the visitor experience while managing the annual influx of approximately five million tourists. During the restoration period alone, over 250,000 visitors used the temporary walkway, highlighting the enduring allure of this iconic landmark.
