Rome’s Trevi Fountain Being Choked by Tourists
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ROME — The Trevi Fountain, one of Rome’s most popular attractions, is being choked by tourists and covered in rubbish, according to the residents who live around it.
When Anita Ekberg swam in the fountain in the film “La Dolce Vita” in 1960, the piazza around it was empty. Now, however, residents believe it cannot physically cope with the “tens of thousands” of people who flock to the site.
“There are 20 times as many people arriving as the streets can bear,” said Fabio Nicolucci, a member of the local council. “Everyone is pleased that the roads will be resurfaced in July, but it is not enough.
“There is structural damage,” he added.
The Trevi, which was completed in 1762, is Rome’s largest fountain, and stands 85 feet high.
The Trevi residents’ association, which is made up of people living and working in the area, has demanded a ban on large coaches at the fountain. Spokesman Giuseppe Scognamiglio said the coaches should park on the other side of the city.
“The council has to understand how it is for the residents who have to cope with the tourists every day,” he said. “The rule on coaches would help a lot.”
