Trevi fountain charge and reservation soon

Very interesting. I have no problem with charging a fee to see the fountain. It can certainly get extremely crowded and the site needs to be protected. The article states they’re going to limit the number of folks going and charge a fee in November while restoration work is being done. It remains to be seen what the process will be in the future.
I’m not sure how I feel about a glass walkway being built over the area being restored. My initial thought is that it would greatly detract from the experience of seeing it.

Sad that overtouristing has meant so many experiences are not longer possible. I took my mother about 30 years ago to the fountain at dawn with take out cappuccino and had the place to ourselves except for a very young Japanese bride and her groom getting pictures. She was dressed in an outfit that looked right out of Cinderella -- I expected to see birds tying the bows.

My initial thought is that it would greatly detract from the experience of seeing it.

How right you are, but shoulder-to-shoulder sightseers sitting and standing all around it, not even looking at it or looking at it through their phone's camera, jabbering, posing, have already spoiled the experience. I first saw it at night in 1971. We were alone at the fountain.

1 euro isn't much a deterrent, and it's reported to be just to access the area below street level as they can't really block access to the piazza, the businesses around it, and the 3-4 streets traveling through it. There's already dense crowding of the street level of the piazza of folks vying for a look at the thing, and I don't see the fee as easing that particular issue. It may, in fact, make it worse but that's just a guess.

Katie Parla seems to agree:
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/romes-trevi-fountain-will-get-a-much-needed-cleaning-and-a-controversial-new-entry-fee-180985243/#:~:text=To%20prepare%20for%20the%20Vatican's,entry%20fee%20will%20be%20introduced.

Note the plan for cleaning and restoration spruce-up for Jubilee; doesn't look like there's any water in it today so it may have started early.

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

I've read in a few places that one of the best ways to avoid the crowds is to enter the Benetton store directly across from the Trevi Fountain, go to the children's clothing section on the First Floor and look out the window. The elevated view will put you above the crowds and you can still see the whole thing which is massive. Might be a good option in 2025 especially.

If the "restricted access" means reserving a time slot with fewer people, I'm all for it. At 5'1" it was impossible for me to view the Trevi Fountain years ago which was 15-people deep! It was frustrating.
Btw, I've added the recommendation to go to the Benetton Store for a great view! Thank you for that. It reminds of how the best way to view Edinburgh Castle @ 37 years ago was to go upstairs at the Wimpy's!

Currently no water in the Trevi Fountain but still a very congested area.