The Trevi Fountain is no doubt one of the most famous and visited monuments of Rome. The iconic fountain is undergoing a two-million restoration project, financed by fashion house Fendi.
However, rather than blocking off the entire site, a transparent suspended walkway has been set up, giving tourists a whole new vantage point of the historic monument – increasing the number of visitors even further.
It is estimated that an average of 1,200 people visit the site every hour. Visits are possible from 9.30 am to 9.30 pm, and the site remains open every day, even on the national holiday of Ferragosto (August 15).
Furthermore, visitors can still continue the tradition of throwing a coin into the fountain to ensure their return to Rome: though the fountain has been drained for the renovation, a small basin has been set up at the rim.
The restoration work is expected to be completed by the fall of 2015, and includes the revision of the water, lighting and surveillance systems.
A fun initiative launched by the city of Rome is the Fontana di Trevi app, available for iPhone and Android, which allows visitors to take a selfie, within 200 meters of the site, by clicking on the appropriate button “Take your selfie”. Each user posting the photo on the corresponding website will receive an email with a photo of the Trevi Fountain personalized with their own portrait.
