Trevi Fountain fee highlights Rome's balancing act over tourism

Officials in Rome say there are no immediate plans to introduce fees at other historic landmarks, after a ticketing system was rolled out at the Trevi Fountain in February.

The move comes as authorities grapple with overcrowding and tourist misconduct, while trying to preserve the city's cultural heritage.

At 264 years old, the Trevi Fountain is one of the most famous examples of Roman Baroque architecture. However, getting up close now comes at a cost, with visitors charged 2 euros to access the lower basin.

Giorgio Trabucco is the vice president of the Rome Tourism Commission. He told CGTN the system has already improved conditions at the site.

"During February, we had around 230,000 tickets sold. In respect to previous months, where there was a lot of chaos, this system guarantees a much more orderly access for tourists".

The policy follows a series of incidents involving tourists sitting on the monument, eating on the steps and even entering the fountain's waters.

Trabucco said the challenge is managing tourism without discouraging it.

"It's clear there have been episodes of disrespect. It's a difficult challenge, but our administration, with interventions like this - managing tourism, not limiting it - is an added value for our city," he told CGTN.

Tourist reactions are mixed.

"I think you should be able to see it for free," one visitor told CGTN.

But many others believe the fee is reasonable.

"Worth every penny," one tourist told CGTN.

"I would pay 2 euros, it's not breaking the bank and it's lovely to see," another said.

Officials say the funds will go toward security, cleaning and maintenance of the site.

Elsewhere, the newly upgraded Colosseo Metro Station offers a different approach. Artefacts uncovered during construction are displayed for free, turning the station into a "museum" space.

The Managing Director of Rome's public transport company ATAC, Paolo Aielli, told CGTN that collaboration is key to balancing preservation and development.

"I think in Rome, we have adopted a very co-operative model because we have the responsibility in terms of engineering, but at the same time we have a very important interaction with the archaeological authorities".

The station has already attracted strong interest.

"The feedback we have had is astonishing. In the first month, we had more than one million visitors and travellers," Aielli told CGTN.

For now, officials say no further fees are planned - but with tourism rising, the debate is far from over.