Trevi Fountain: Another crowd-control effort

I think there is little question that reservations and other limitations will apply to these overwhelmed tourist sites.

Hey there, Big Mike -
It's not as much the 'if' as the 'how' I'm curious about. It's tough to imagine how they'd completely close that piazza to all but reserved, timed-entry visitors. They may be able to limit access to just the steps and area directly in front of it but a chunk of the mob have to use the street areas bordering 3 sides for viewing and they'd still clog it up (see the live cam). Completely cutting off access from those aforementioned streets leading into and passing through.... I'll be interesting to see how it shakes out?

https://www.skylinewebcams.com/en/webcam/italia/lazio/roma/fontana-di-trevi.html

I’m also curious to see how this would work. Would access be cut off 24-hours a day?

I was there in March 2023 at 7 am with no crowds. It would be a shame if one had to wait to see it during set hours.

Gosh, Carrie, I wouldn't think they'd do the timed-entry thing 24/7; it'll be pain enough to have to staff ticket checks just for high-traffic hours? And how will they limit viewing time for those visitors with timed-entry tickets? Maybe via a shuffle-through route with no sitting or standing? It'll be interesting as well to see how RS tours would choose to handle a peek at the thing - I see it's mentioned on the VFR tour but not on Best of Rome - if reserved restrictions become a reality. Maybe leave it to the on-your-own hours? Just noodling.

Now I'm picturing one of those slow-moving conveyor belt walkway things wrapped around the Trevi Fountain -- and the inevitable skirmish when the Instagram models can't get their perfect shot.

Marrone! I'll be in Rome for 4 days next April, less than 2 weeks before Easter. AirBnB booked already. Ordinarily, since I've been to Trevi before and don't need to flip the coin, I'd just avoid it. But we'll be with 2 of my cousins that have never been to Rome. So I guess we'll be early risers one day! Probably will be similar with Spanish Steps, Colosseum, Forum?

Ordinarily, since I've been to Trevi before and don't need to flip the
coin, I'd just avoid it.

Oh but to ensure you'll return to bella Roma again, Jay? :O)
I guess you could also just light a candle somewhere in Rome for our dear departed Zoe. It was her favorite place, and I plan to do that next we're back in the city. LOL, she didn't care that I was sort of a heathen!

I can't imagine how they would implement this to block access to a public piazza which contains local businesses and is actually quite small. I think they are just throwing this at the wall to see what the public reaction is.

Put Disney in charge and they will figure out how to move people efficiently ( and profitably) through the area.

LOL, Joe32f! Venice is accused of being treated like Disneyland. Not Roma too!

The 7am plan has always been my favorite. Nothing better in a nice morning than to experience the city waking up, strolling through the back streets, having a cappuccino, visiting the fountain without crowds and pickpockets.

I'll drink (a large cappuccino) to that, Laurel!

I guess you could also just light a candle somewhere in Rome for our
dear departed Zoe. It was her favorite place, and I plan to do that
next we're back in the city. LOL, she didn't care that I was sort of a
heathen!

You know, Kate, that's not a bad idea! Despite Zoe's penchant for real out-of-the-way places (including her hometown of Benevento outside Salerno), she knew--as I do--that Rome has dozens of hidden gems, some of them in plain sight.

Maybe I'll return to St. Constanza, a bus ride north of Termini on via Nomentana. 4th Century, almost Coptic-looking. Tremendous mosaic.

Not far from St. Constanza & across Nomentana, there is Villa Torlonia, a somewhat dilapidated residence that was the wartime headquarters for Mussolini, actually he and his family lived there from the 1920's on. At least in 2017, it was in disrepair but for free we were able to roam the grounds, almost envisioning Il Duce, arms crossed, peering at us from the balcony.

I know where I'll go. San Pietro in Vincoli. (St. Peter in Chains), a minor basilica not far from the Colosseum. More well known I guess, but curiously bypassed even on church tours. No matter. Name alludes to the Liberation of Peter, built in 440 AD, the sculpture by Michelangelo of Moses shows his detailed genius. My favorite in Italy. I'll light a candle there. Perfecto!

I know, kind of off-topic, but just to reiterate there is plenty more to Roma than Trevi!

Jay... I toured the Mussolini house this past May when I was in Rome for the weekend.

...there is plenty more to Roma than Trevi!

You got that right, my friend (and I haven't forgotten to respond to your thoughtful message). I'm thinking my candle might be in Santa Sabina. It's one we both liked very much, and which sparked an interesting behind-the-scenes conversation about "Ecclesia et Synagoga" pictured in a mosaic there. Nothing like learning from the Professor of Religious Studies, especially when one is a bit of a pagan. :O)

Nothing like learning from the Professor of Professor of Religious
Studies, especially when one is a bit of a pagan. :O)

Where in heck are you from, Kate...Mordor?

Where in heck are you from, Kate...Mordor?

Yep, just rambling on with Gollum and the Evil One and humming some Led Zep.

The fight against “over-tourism” is now the most popular topic in the current political discourse in Italy, so it has risen at the top of the political agenda, slowly competing with climate change for “top concerning issues” to resolve. That is what you gather if you follow Italian media, talk shows, political speeches, etc. But I predict that when the energy around this topic will have faded away in the media, some “other problem” will rise to the top of the media hype and of the political discourse.

On the subject of stolen artworks, one might be interested in reading up on Cardinal Scipione Borghese and how some of Galleria Borghese's masterpieces were 'obtained' in the early 17th century.

But I digress: back to that very large fountain in a not-so-large piazza.
(Hmm, the post that prompted this one has gone AWOL. Never mind.)

Kate--I figured it out. Have them lop about 25 feet off each side of the fountain to make room for more people. Problem solved...

But I predict that when the energy around this topic will have faded
away in the media, some “other problem” will rise to the top of the
media hype and of the political discourse.

Roberto...if I were a betting man, I'd lay 3:1 odds that the next Italian media 'topic du jour' will be one of these:

"What about that GARBAGE in Rome?

"Those ugly AMERICANS! Why do they have to eat dinner so EARLY?!"

@Jay:

This week the media is busy with the news of Culture Minister Gennaro Sangiuliano, who had to resign in disgrace for the gossip news involving him and his appointed Ministry Adviser Maria Rosaria Boccia, with whom he apparently had an "improper relationship", to paraphrase Bill Clinton.

Crowd control efforts and over-tourism will have to wait another day.

@Roberto:
As Roseanne Roseannadanna would say, it's always something. :O)