Rome’s world-famous Trevi Fountain has re-opened after a three-month restoration.
Built in the 18th Century by Italian architect Nicola Salvi on the façade of the Poli Palace, the historic fountain is one of the city’s most visited spots.
Between 10,000 and 12,000 tourists used to visit the Trevi Fountain each day, but a new queuing system has been installed to prevent large crowds massing near the landmark.
Speaking on Sunday Mayor of Rome Roberto Gualtieri said imposing the limit will “allow everyone to better enjoy the fountain, without crowds or confusion”.
Gualtieri also said city authorities were considering charging a modest entry price to finance the fountain’s upkeep.
Sunday’s re-opening took place under light rain in the presence of several hundred tourists, many of whom followed the mayor by throwing a coin into the fountain.
The three-month cleaning project involved removing mould and calcium incrustations.
The fountain and other key city sites have been cleaned ahead of the jubilee of the Roman Catholic Church which begins on Christmas Eve.
Its poor structural condition was exposed in 2012 when bits of its elaborate cornice began falling off after an especially harsh winter which required a multi-million euro renovation the following year.
Making a wish and tossing a coin into the water is such a tradition that the city authorities used to collect around €10,000 (£8,300; $10,500) a week.
The money was donated to a charity that provides meals for the poor.
The Trevi fountain
- Commissioned by Pope Clement XII in 1730
- It is the end point of one of the aqueducts that supplied ancient Rome with water
- The Acqua Vergine runs for a total of 20km (12 miles) before flowing into the fountain
- Tourists can drink from a special tap tucked away at one side
- According to legend, the water source was discovered in 19 BC by thirsty Roman soldiers directed to the site by a young virgin – which is why it is called Virgin Waters
- The tradition of throwing coins into the fountain was made famous by Frank Sinatra’s Three Coins in the Fountain in the 1954 romantic comedy of the same name