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25 February, 2020

Uproar over Rome’s plans to build a barrier around the Trevi Fountain

Critics have slammed Rome’s plans to put an anti-tourist barricade around its iconic Trevi Fountain.

Virginia Raggi, the mayor of Rome, posted to Facebook confirming local government had approved a motion to place protective barriers around the baroque masterpiece.

“It seems to me a proposal of common sense to protect one of the most important and visited monuments in Rome,” she said.

“I want to explain the idea, so as to avoid unfounded controversies. It would be a barrier similar to those already built for many other fountains in Rome, from the Turtle Fountain in Piazza Mattei to the Fountain of the Four Rivers in Piazza Navona.

“It is a solution that would not obscure the view of the Trevi Fountain and would allow the traditional tossing of coins, a ritual for anyone who visits our city.”

However, Baroque historian and architect, Paolo Portoghesi told Italian media outlet Oggi Norizie that it would be “truly foolish” to complete the project.

“Installing a barrier seems a frightful offence against the beauty of a masterpiece which gives itself generously to those who observe it,” he said.

The plan was first floated in November last year, alongside a proposal to limit the number of people allowed inside the Piazza de Trevi.

It comes a month after Raggi brought into legislation a ban on souvenir stalls near the city’s most-visited sites to improve their integrity and security.

The city also cracked down on a spate of other tourist offences in June last year including messy eating outside monuments, dragging suitcases down historic steps and placing your mouth around the metal spout on fountains.

Featured image credit: iStock.com/imantsu

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italy overtourism rome Trevi Fountain