Rome is covered in scaffolding right now. The city has been under construction for months, frustrating visitors and residents alike. Nearly every fountain, piazza, and monument has been subject to restoration- all in the name of the Jubilee.
Pope Francis has declared 2025 a holy year, meaning the city can expect as many as 25 million (!!!) additional tourists coming as pilgrims for the Jubilee. Many of the faithful will arrive between Christmas and Easter to visit the Vatican, and of course visit Rome along the way.
It has made 2024 a somewhat frustrating year to be in Rome because many of the many sites are shrouded under construction materials for restoration. The latest monument up for renewal is the Trevi Fountain. The masterpiece has been completely drained for cleaning, with scaffolding around its individual statues.
I can only imagine how disappointing it would be to visit Rome for the first time to see the Trevi completely empty. BUT, this time I think the city came up with a great solution that honors the artistic value of the fountain, even while it is drained. The city has constructed a temporary walkway THROUGH the fountain, allowing an elevated and up close view of the monument.
The fountain is so crowded in normal times that it is difficult to get close to it. I think the walkway (which is monitored to keep the crowd manageable) is a really unique way to experience the monument. Visitors are transported so close to the sculptures that it’s possible to see details you would normally miss, like this little snail crawling through the marble sea plants.
Does anyone else remember the phenomenal Fendi show that built a catwalk through the water? This is the closest I’ll ever get to a similar catwalk moment!
There is a line, but it keeps moving fairly swiftly during opening hours: 9 am to 9 pm (with the last entry at 8:30 pm).
The solution to allowing tourists to throw a coin in the water, ensuring a later return to Rome, is somewhat less elegant: a tiny wading pool behind the barrier. But hey, it’s something.
The aim is to finish the renovation by the end of the year (though deadlines in Rome are somewhat extendable). The Jubilee starts on 24 December, so there is a chance that it will only be up until then. Rather than avoiding – I recommend a visit to see the fountain as you might never get the chance to again — close up. Plus, you might even be able to find some incredible hotel discounts on Booking.com if you find the right dates.
It must be such a breathtaking experience to be able to walk so close to the Fontana di Trevi. Many many thanks for giving your readers this once in a lifetime experience. Missed you for a long time. Always enjoy reading your superb articles.