‘This is history, it should be free’: Rome’s €2 Trevi fountain fee divides opinion

Charge is designed to protect much-loved monument from overtourism, but not all visitors like the idea

Teresa Romero is in Rome to celebrate a milestone birthday and one of the first things she did on Monday was visit the Trevi fountain to participate in the ritual of tossing a coin into the waters of the late baroque masterpiece.

But before the Portuguese tourist could get close to the fountain, she had to hand over 2 (1.70) - the cost of an access fee that has finally been enacted by Rome council officials after years of discussions.