tourist water trevi fountain

Watch: Tourist caught climbing across Rome's historic Trevi Fountain to fill up water bottle

A tourist has become the subject of the internet’s ire after a video of her dipping her water bottle into Rome’s Trevi Fountain  for a drink went viral.

The video, shared by witness Lex Jones , was taken last month at the popular tourist attraction, which was packed with other onlookers enjoying the day.

As the video begins, a woman in a blue shirt, blue baseball cap and white pants can be seen balancing on stones left of the fountain’s center, holding a bottle under a cascade of water to fill it.

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The fountain, considered a “late Baroque masterpiece” according to  Encyclopedia Britannica, is one of Rome’s most revered symbols. The historic site is surrounded by notices advising onlookers not to touch, climb or use it as a water source, Lex Jones told newswire Storyful.

“There were signs all over saying that’s not allowed,” she told the news service. “I was just like, wow, this is crazy so I started videoing it.”

As the video continues, the woman can be seen crossing back over the fountain’s stones as the crowd stares. As the woman makes it back to the fountain’s edge and jumps down, a security guard in a high-vis vest confronts the woman, who is seemingly confused.

“[The woman] kept trying to explain her side and didn’t really understand why she was in trouble,” Jones told Storyful.

The trespasser is then escorted away as onlookers watch.

A TikTok of the incident, which racked up 1.3 million views , received thousands of comments in multiple languages, most of which express confusion or distaste for the woman’s actions.

“What was she thinking?” multiple comments read, while others question if the water was even drinkable in the first place. Others shared their own experiences visiting the fountain and witnessing tight security, one saying, “When I was there, they screamed from the other side when people even got near the water.”

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What is the Trevi Fountain?

Located in Rome, Italy, the Trevi Fountain is a Baroque-era feat of architecture found in Rome’s Trevi district, in front of Palazzo Poli palace, according to Encyclopedia Britannica.

The site on which it stands once housed another fountain, which was demolished in the 17 th century to make way for a new structure. Nicola Salvi won a design competition to fill the space in 1732 and began a grand construction which incorporated the front of the palace, natural rock formations and statues of mythological characters.

The fountain took 30 years to complete and was finished in 1762 by Giuseppe Pannini after Salvi’s death in 1751.

Standing 85 feet tall and 160 feet wide, the fountain was once revered as the best water source in Rome, supplying the Vatican itself with weekly barrels of water for centuries. However, the water is now considered undrinkable.

The Trevi Fountain is also home to a popular legend which dictates those who throw coins in the water are destined to return to Rome. Today, the city collects the thrown coins on a daily basis and donates them to charity.

Watch CBS News

Woman captured on video climbing Rome's Trevi Fountain to fill up water bottle

By Emmet Lyons

Updated on: August 17, 2023 / 10:45 AM EDT / CBS News

Video of a woman trespassing and climbing into Rome's famous Trevi fountain to fill up a water bottle has circulated on social media.

The footage, which was captured last month, shows a woman dressed in a blue shirt and wearing a cap climbing across rocks that line the 18th-century landmark before filling up a bottle underneath the famous fountain's spout. Stunned members of the public are seen looking on. 

A security guard is captured on the video blowing her whistle and running toward the woman. The guard then confronts the trespasser and takes her away. It remains unclear as to what punishment, if any, the unnamed tourist faced. 

The footage was captured by tourist Lex Jones who told video agency Storyful that there were "signs all over saying that's not allowed."

"I was just like 'Wow, this is crazy,' so I started filming it," he said. 

Standing at some 85 feet high, the Trevi fountain is one of the iconic landmarks in Italy's capital. 

Millions of tourists visit the structure every year and throw coins into the fountain as a good luck gesture. Those who toss coins into its waters will return to Rome, according to Italian legend. 

Those who trespass at the fountain can be subject to heavy fines of up to 500 euros per guidelines outlined on the website of Rome's airport.

"It's much better and cheaper to simply enjoy the fountain from a sensible distance," the guidelines say.

In recent months, international tourists have faced criticism for disrespecting some of Rome's most notable monuments. 

In June, two American tourists were caught pushing and throwing their electric scooters down the Spanish Steps in Rome, causing $25,000 worth of damage, according to local officials. 

One tourist was also caught using a key to carve his and his girlfriend's names into the Colosseum earlier this summer. 

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WATCH: Tourist Caught Climbing Rome’s Iconic Trevi Fountain to Fill Her Water Bottle

A tourist was caught on video by a fellow sightseer as she climbed into the historic 18th century fountain in July

A tourist took sightseeing too far in Rome last month as they climbed one of the ancient city’s most famous landmarks.

In July, a woman was caught on video by a fellow sightseer climbing into the iconic Trevi Fountain — an 18th century landmark and one of the city's most popular tourist spots. In the clip , shared on TikTok, the tourist, who is dressed in white capri pants and a blue shirt, held an empty plastic bottle under one of the fountain’s waterfalls and appeared to fill up the bottle with water from the spout.

Onlookers watched in shock as she entered and exited the fountain, which approximately 1,000 tourists are estimated to visit every hour.

After the bottle is filled, the woman balances on uneven stones as she makes her way out of the fountain and back to the viewing area, where other tourists stand.

A police officer wearing a bright yellow vest that read “Polizia Roma Capitale” had blown her whistle as the woman exited the fountain. The guard then approached the tourist and after a short conversation, escorted her away from the landmark.

According to a TripAdvisor review , in 2016 another tourist similarly, decided to forgo the usual sightseeing route and opted to take a dip in the fountain. That individual recounted that officials will fine any individual who enters the fountain €450, about $491. The reviewer called it “one of the most unique and beautiful souvenirs,” despite the hefty financial consequences.  

The fountain is known for a legend that promises if a tourist throws a coin into its pool they’ll return to the city in the future. 

Atlantide Phototravel/Getty

This year, tourism rates in Rome, as well as other popular European destinations like Barcelona, Spain, and Santorini, Greece, are estimated to exceed those of 2019, pre-pandemic, according to a report from the Associated Press .

American travelers are largely to thank for the upswing in tourism, the outlet reported, as the strong U.S. dollar value motivated many to take long-awaited trips.

Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

Despite the volume of tourists, many visitors aren’t letting the busyness stop them. 

“The crowds don’t deter us,” Lauren Gonzalez, 25, told the outlet. “We live in Florida. We have all been to Disney World in the heat. We are all good.” 

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Tourist filmed climbing into Rome’s Trevi Fountain to fill her water bottle

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A woman has been filmed climbing into Rome’s iconic Trevi Fountain to fill up her water bottle.

The footage, recorded last month, shows the tourist is seen climbing across the rocks and using one of the fountain’s spouts to fill her bottle, before a security guard blows a whistle and is seen marching towards her.

The two have a brief discussion before the guard leads the woman away. It appears that the woman is trying to explain her actions, it is not known exactly what was said during the brief exchange.

Lex Jones was among those who filmed the incident, and said that “there were signs all over saying that’s not allowed”, and that the woman didn’t seem to understand what she’d done wrong, according to Insider .

It remains unclear what happened to the tourist after the incident, and whether she was arrested or fined.  The Independent  has contacted the country’s state police for further information.

The incident follows a recent spate of similar occurances in Italy, with people disrespecting some of the country’s most famous monuments. Last month, a person was filmed swimming and diving into the famous 18th-century fountain, and Corriere della Sera reported that tourists were applauding.

After the incident, Alessandro Onorato, Rome’s councillor for Major Events, Sport, Tourism and Fashion, urged authorities to limit access to the fountain, calling the incident “pure barbarism” and “a mockery of the historical and cultural heritage of our city”.

“Police fines and multiple appeals to common sense are no longer enough. This is not the tourism we deserve and need,” he added.

Elsewhere in the city, in July a man was filmed carving a name into the walls of the Colosseum , and Italian police later identified him as a fitness instructor from Bristol. The man in question later made a written apology to the city’s mayor.

And last week, Tourists who destroyed an Italian sculpture in Lombardy valued at €200,000 have been denounced as “imbeciles” by the country’s deputy prime minister, with a local politician demanding reparations for their actions.

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A bizarre video shows a tourist climbing into Rome's famed Trevi Fountain to fill up her water bottle

• A video shot last month shows a tourist climbing into the Trevi Fountain to fill her bottle.
• She seemed to believe she'd done nothing wrong when confronted by a guard, an onlooker told Storyful.
• Rome saw a spate of incidents this summer involving tourists breaking laws and defacing historic sites.

A woman was filmed climbing into Rome's Trevi Fountain to fill up her water bottle in yet another case of tourists behaving badly at Italy's historic sites this summer.

The clip, filmed on July 18 by an onlooker named Lex Jones and obtained by news agency Storyful, shows the woman walking over a row of rocks to reach the center of the iconic attraction.

She then fills her bottle from a spout in the fountain, before a guard blows a whistle and confronts her. After speaking to the tourist, the guard is seen leading the trespasser away.

—Storyful (@Storyful) August 14, 2023

"There were signs all over saying that's not allowed," Jones told Storyful.

The tourist didn't seem to understand what she did wrong and tried explaining her actions to the guard, Jones added.

It's not immediately clear if the tourist was fined or arrested. State Police did not immediately respond to a request for comment sent outside regular business hours.

Related stories

Just weeks before, a tourist angered local authorities by swimming in Trevi Fountain on July 28 with a blue T-shirt and shorts, reported Italian daily Corriere Della Serra.

Onlookers clapped and cheered for him, according to the outlet. 

Rome's Councilor for Major Events, Sport, Tourism and Fashion, Alessandro Onorato, called the incident "pure barbarism," saying it showed how fines and "appeals to common sense" are no longer enough to keep tourists in check.

He urged the Italian Ministries of Culture and the Interior to aid the city in enforcing its rules against drinking and bathing in historic fountains, which were signed into law in 2018.

Authorities sometimes point to a scene from the 1960 film "La Dolce Vita" as the inspiration for tourists swimming in the Trevi Fountain. In the scene, actors Anita Ekberg and Marcello Mastroianni are filmed wading in its waters.

The water bottle incident also comes as two separate teenage tourists made headlines for defacing the Colosseum in July.

Watch: Garbage and floodwater fill up streets in Italy, disrupting tourist season

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clock This article was published more than  1 year ago

Don’t fill your bottle in the Trevi Fountain. Europe has lots of water.

Just don’t expect ice

There are about 2,500 water fountains scattered throughout Rome . Some of these nasoni, named for their nose-like spouts, stretch back to the late 19th century, when the city of Rome decided to start providing free water to its citizens. Many of these fountains feature a long, simple spout. The older ones feature a decorative dragon head.

Water flows constantly from all of them, where you can fill up a reusable water bottle.

That didn’t stop a tourist from climbing across the city’s famed Trevi Fountain to fill her water bottle with water from the 18th century landmark. Though a yellow-vested guard promptly escorted the trespasser out of the historic site, the video quickly went viral. Rome has had a law preventing drinking and bathing in the city’s fountains since 2018.

The incident is just the latest in a string of incidents featuring badly behaved tourists at Italian monuments, including one traveler who carved love notes into the Colosseum and another in northern Italy who knocked down a 150-year old sculpture worth about 200,000 euros.

The woman who filled her water bottle at the Trevi did so in the middle of July, which was the hottest month ever recorded . (Records go back to 1880.) Across southern Europe, widespread heat waves made travel difficult at best — and chaotic at worst. Maybe the sound of the clear, turquoise water rushing from the Trevi Fountain seemed all but irresistible amid the broiling temperatures.

The fountain gets its water from the Aqua Virgo , one of Rome’s 11 ancient aqueducts and the only one that’s still functioning today. Though the water was originally used as clean drinking water for Romans, some travel sites discourage drinking its water and say it’s recycled.

Amid record breaking temperatures, travelers from the United States have complained about what they consider a lack of accessible water in European cities. One D.C.-based TikToker expressed concern that her “organs are turning into beef jerky” because they were “so dry.” “Half my travel budget is water I swear,” she added in the video caption.

Indeed, the culture around water in Europe is markedly different than that in the United States. It’s not common to be greeted with an endless supply of free ice water at a restaurant, nor should it be expected. The stark difference has even led some American travelers to question if Europeans are simply less thirsty than their counterparts across the pond.

Third-party tours have made Europe a maze. Here’s how to avoid them.

Though having to pay for water at a restaurant — and receiving an iceless glass once you do — can be a culture shock, European water culture has some advantages when compared to American practices.

For one, most major cities, and even historic towns, have public water fountains scattered throughout. Though they look different from the silver water fountain often found near public restrooms in the United States, they provide clean, drinkable water all the same.

In Rome, for example, travelers can use an interactive map on the Waidy app from Italian water provider Acea to find public water sources near them.

Even at restaurants, where wine and beer are often significantly cheaper than bottled water, there are ways to get tap water free. While asking just for “water” will lead to being charged for a bottle of sparkling or still, asking for a glass of water or tap water will often get you it free.

This is true across Europe. In some countries, such as Spain, restaurants are required by law to provide free tap water when asked.

Unlike restaurants in America, European restaurants probably won’t refill your tap water unless you ask — and sometimes they won’t even then. But when that’s the case, you can splurge on a bottle or hunt for a public water fountain at the end of your meal.

Travelers should be warned: insisting on tap water and asking for ice is a decidedly “American” thing to do , as travel influencers on TikTok have shared. That doesn’t mean, however, that you shouldn’t ask anyway. It’s better to commit the relatively small cultural faux pas of asking for free water than to climb into a historic fountain in search of it.

Tourist walks across Trevi Fountain in Rome to fill water bottle

ROME (KABC) -- A woman left a group of tourists stunned when she used one of the most famous fountains in the world to fill up her water bottle.

Video circulating on social media shows the woman trespassing at the historic Trevi Fountain in Rome last month, prompting a guard to escort her away.

Lex Jones, who was visiting the popular tourist site, recorded the incident and told Storyful, "there were signs all over saying that's not allowed," adding "I was just like, wow, this is crazy so I started videoing it."

The footage shows a guard talking to the woman before eventually leading her away.

According to Jones, the woman "kept trying to explain her side and didn't really understand why she was in trouble."

Millions of tourists visit the Trevi Fountain every year and throw coins into its waters, making it one of the most beloved landmarks in Rome.

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Tourist Scales the Trevi Fountain in Rome to Fill Her Water Bottle, Breaking Rules of Centuries-Old Landmark

Please. Do not do this.

Atlantide Phototravel / Getty Images

We’ve all heard the stories of travelers behaving badly. From defacing national parks to snapping selfies in places we don’t belong, there are plenty of stories out there to horrify us all. But one traveler visiting the Trevi Fountain in Rome is possibly outdoing them all. 

A new video has emerged showing a woman wading through the water at the base of the famed historic site, making her way to the back rocks, where she climbs up, opens a water bottle, and proceeds to fill it with water from the fountain. 

"There were signs all over saying that's not allowed," Lex Jones, a tourist who was visiting the fountain at the time, shared alongside a video they recorded and uploaded to Storyful, according to ABC News . "I was just like, wow, this is crazy, so I started videoing it."

According to Jones, the woman was promptly escorted away by security, but not before attempting to explain why she did it. “[She] didn't really understand why she was in trouble," Jones added. 

While we don’t know what the tourist was after, it was likely to get a taste of the water, which flows directly from the Aqua Virgo, a water source dating back to ancient Rome. According to Engineering Rome , the aqueduct, which feeds the Trevi Fountain, was constructed in 19 BC, and is the only ancient aqueduct still in use today. It’s also the only aqueduct to enter Rome from the north. Its accompanying fountain, however, wasn’t constructed until 1762. “Aqua Virgo was very effective at providing clean drinking water for people in the areas that needed it, as well as providing water for the baths of Agrippa and Campus Martius in general,” the website explained. The authors note, the aqueduct system has gone through many restorations throughout the centuries, which allows it to “receive the same original spring water from the Salone area” even today. 

Though the aqueduct was meant to deliver clean water then, it most certainly doesn’t do that today. According to Rome Experience , the fountain produces some 80,000 cubic meters of water each day, but adds, “The water is recycled and just for show, so don’t be tempted to drink it.” 

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9 Things To See Near Trevi Fountain: Rome Neighborhood Guide

Sean Finelli Last Updated: March 8, 2023

Planning to see Trevi Fountain on your trip to Rome and unsure what else to see in the area? No problem! The Eternal City is full of treasures hidden in plain sight. In this article, we’ll guide you to the top things to see near Trevi Fountain.

Pro Tip : Bookmark this article in a “Rome” folder in your browser, so you can circle back to it while planning. Check out our  best Rome tours  so you can see the Eternal City as few others do. Also, see our  guide to Rome  for more resources to help you plan your trip.

What To See Near Trevi Fountain

Trevi Fountain is a baroque icon that sees an average of between 1,000 to 1,200 visitors per hour most years. It’s easy to snap a pic, throw your coins in the fountain, and go—but you found this article, which means you’re a savvy traveler who wants more. Here are the top things to see at Trevi Fountain including historical info and insider details.

9. Giardini del Quirinale

Looking for a good place to stroll around and get a coffee? Or somewhere elegant to let your kids run around without the worry of vehicle traffic? The Quirinale Gardens provide you with four acres of lush green space in the middle of Rome. The gardens are free to enter, quite beautiful, and rarely used—a lovely place for a moment of peace surrounded by the charms of Rome.

Address : P.za del Quirinale

8. Palazzo Barberini and the Helicoidal Staircase

Palazzo Barberini is one of Rome’s great art galleries that almost nobody visits. If it were in any other city, it would be one of the greatest museums you’d find. It has a lot of competition in Rome for the attention of art lovers, so its corridors remain empty. This may sound sad, but it’s good news if you go and visit it—you’ll have an amazing gallery to yourself!

What is there to see in the gallery? For starters, Borromini’s Helicoidal Staircase. It is one of the most beautiful displays of architecture and ingenuity you’ll ever see. As polished as a sculpture, this staircase was born out of resentment. Yes, resentment.

Borromini worked under Stefano Moderno in the design of the Barberini Palace. When Moderno died, he thought he would be chosen as the new lead architect. Instead, the commission went to Bernini and a blood feud was born.

Borromini was left with a staircase assignment and he gave it 150% to show he was the master. Today, it is the crowning jewel of the Palazzo. You can also see works by Caravaggio and Raphael here, another reason to put it at the top of your list of museums to visit.

Address : Via delle Quattro Fontane, 13

7. Via del Corso Shopping

Near Trevi Fountain is the spine of Rome, Via del Corso. This road has been there since the times of Ancient Rome, although I’m sure it has been refinished a few hundred times! The original name of the road was Via Lata that was eventually changed to Via del Corso. Why?

The name means “Road of the Race,” which comes from a horse race that took place every year in Rome called Corsa dei Barberi. However, this wasn’t the kind of horse race we would think of today. In this annual celebration, horses would race without riders. Eventually, they changed the name to Via del Corso because it was the Road of the Race.

Today, the bottom half of this road has some vehicle traffic, but the top half is mostly pedestrian with lots of great shopping. While nearby Via Condotti has expensive stores and designer brands, Via del Corso is dotted with more affordable brands like Zara.

Address : Via del Corso

6. Aqua Virgo Aqueduct

Aqua Virgo Aqueduct is one of Rome’s oldest aqueducts and it feeds the Trevi Fountain today, over 2,000 years after its original construction. Just around the corner from Trevi Fountain, you can see parts of the conduits bringing water to it. You’ll find it in a small alley with a metal fence protecting it and a plaque that reads: “Acuedotto Vergine.”

Unfortunately, there’s not much else to see from this vantage point. It’s pretty cool to get a view of the inner workings of the water system though. This is a great stop to hit on your way to the Trevi Fountain from the Spanish Steps on your self-guided walking tour . 

Pro Tip : Looking for the aqueduct you can explore called Vicus Caprarius or Water City? Keep reading—it’s #2.

Address:  Via del Nazareno, 9a

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Rome in a Day Tour with Colosseum and Vatican Museums

Our “in a day” tour is best way to get your bearings all in one day. Visit the Sistine Chapel, Colosseum, Trevi Fountain, and more with a licensed, fun English-speaking tour guide. They’ll add tons of insights and make the entire experience so much more memorable. Also, you’ll get a feel for the city, so it’s a great option on one of your first days in Rome. Bring your walking shoes and water bottle!

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One of our most popular Vatican tours since it is such an amazing value. Skip the line to get inside with a super-knowledgeable, English-speaking guide who will bring the museum to life with stories of the artists, popes, conspiracy, love, and even tragedy! This tour has start times throughout the day so you can choose when to visit based on your schedule!

Not ready to book a tour? Check out our  Rome Guide for more info.

5. Basilica di Sant’Andrea delle Fratte

The Basilica di Sant’Andrea delle Fratte is a perfect stop if you are coming from the direction of the Spanish Steps. The church is diagonally opposite the plaque on the outside of Gian Lorenzo Bernini’s residence and it contains some of this work.

Many people pay for admission tickets to see exceptional art, paintings, and sculptures from masters like Bernini without ever realizing how easy it is to see so much of it for free. In this church, you can see two angels on the left and right of the alter both created by Bernini. Most churches close for a long lunch, so be sure to come in the morning or late afternoon.

Address : Via di Sant’Andrea delle Fratte, 1

4. Column of Marcus Aurelius

Modeled after Trajan’s column built less than a century prior, the Column of Marcus Aurelius is a victory column that details Rome’s triumph over the Sarmatians, Quadi, and Marcomanni in A.D. 176. The column itself was likely completed around A.D. 193 after Marcus Aurelius’ death.

It stands a total of 130 feet tall and was made from Carrara marble. Made from 28 in total, the blocks were hollowed out and placed to form a 200-step staircase leading to a top platform.

This column, along with Trajan’s, paints a very detailed picture for historians to connect the dots of past events. Our fear, and likely reality, is that propaganda and exaggerations in these works may alter how history is written, but that is the way of the world It is certainly better to have it than not.

This incredible monument that has survived almost 2,000 years and, in any other city, would be a main attraction. Here in Rome, however, it goes almost unnoticed.

Address : P.za Colonna

3. Piccolo Buco

€€ | Casual | Kid Friendly

Food is always part of the journey, which is why we run food tours in every city we operate in. The name of this restaurant means the “small hole”, similar to the English saying, “hole in the wall.” The pizza here, however, is anything but.

They cook their pizza in an oven that is over a hundred years old, and apparently they don’t make pizza ovens like they used to!  I don’t know why that is important, but it always is. The owners are actually from the Trevi Fountain area (a rarity because nobody lives there) and have saved us all from tourist-trap armageddon.

This is my number one Trevi Fountain pick for a great cheap meal. The style of pizza is Napoletano, not Roman, which may be misguided. That said, come here for the pizza, it’s the best!

Address:  Via del Lavatore, 91

2. Find Trevi Fountain’s Water Source: Vicus Caprarius

In-City Underground Ruins | Interactive | €

Did you know you can explore the underground water source for Trevi Fountain (and other ancient Roman buildings)? Yep! While the Trevi Fountain teems with hoards of people above, you could head to a quiet street for a reserved entrance to the Vicus Caprarius, the Water City.

The archaeological ruins here were once an apartment complex from the height of the Roman era. During an excavation, the still-running water source was found and preserved so you can explore yourself! It’s a cool spot that has lots of informational videos and catwalks to explore the water tanks from several angles. On display are also amazing artifacts from clay pots to mosaics.

You have to reserve your spot ahead of time—don’t wait until you arrive! The tickets are €8 but you can also request a guided tour in English or Italian.

Address: Vicolo del Puttarello, 25

1. Trevi Fountain: Baroque Masterpiece

The word “Trevi” refers to the small piazza where the fountain is located and the three roads meet. Tre means three in Italian and via means road or street, and this is how we get Tre-via or Trevi. Fontana di Trev, then, is the fountain of three roads.

The backdrop of the fountain is the facade of Palazzo Poli, a museum housing engravings and other important artefacts. In the 17th century, Gian Lorenzo Bernini set out to build Trevi Fountain but the plan never went through. Over a hundred years later, Nicola Salvi got the commission by losing a competition for best drawing.

Salvi lost the competition to a Florentine, Alessandro Galli. Romans were not happy about a Florentine getting the commission and revolted. Eventually, Salvi was handed the job. Construction began in 1732 and was completed in 1762, 11 years after Salvi’s death. The architect Giuseppe Pannini took over and worked with multiple sculptors to finish the project. Find out more about the symbolism, stories, and folklore surrounding the Trevi Fountain .

Next Stop…

If you’re doing a  walking tour of Rome , your next stop should be the Pantheon  since it is so close to Trevi Fountain. We show you how to do a DIY walking tour of Rome in the video below or see the  DIY Rome itinerary . Hungry? Check out the  best restaurants near Trevi Fountain .

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Italian officials want to charge admission to this iconic site as overcrowding leads to chaos: ‘too many tourists’.

A visit to Rome could soon cost a’more.

Tourism bosses in the Eternal City are desperate to curb overcrowding at the iconic Trevi Fountain — to the point where they’re floating the idea of an admission fee and reservation system for visits to the beloved Baroque-era site.

The idea of staggered entry and a modest fee of a couple of Euros comes as the Italian capital experiences surging numbers of visitors, with the historically sacred location absorbing approximately 1,200 sightseers every hour, the AP reported.

Many of the tourists are poorly behaved, officials complain — last summer, a woman shocked locals by climbing in to fill her water bottle .

Others have been caught attempting the famous plunge into the fountain from “La Dolce Vita” — a soaking act that carries a steep fine.

Rome’s mayor Roberto Gualteri has expressed support of the plan, put forth by tourism official Alessandro Onorato, who noted that the admission fee would be on par with the amount of money many visitors toss into the world-famous wishing well, which already rakes in well over $1M annually .

“We have to avoid, especially in a fragile art city like Rome, that too many tourists damage the tourist experience, and damage the city,’’ Onorato told the AP. “We need to safeguard two things, that tourists don’t experience chaos and that citizens can continue to live in the center.”

Close by at the Colosseum, one visiting scofflaw got caught chiseling his initials into its stone .

Visitors would be allowed to view the fountain for free from a distance, but access to the amphitheatre-style viewing area would now be tightly controlled.

Romans would be exempt from the charge.

Aside from the issues of criminal disruption and trespassing, Oronato said that the fee would discourage loitering — some visitors like to hang around eating their lunches on the steps, feeding scraps to the pigeons.

“[Rule breaking] would happen less, or maybe it wouldn’t happen at all, because whoever would enter, we would know their names and where they live. It becomes more complicated,’’ he said.

Further up the boot in Venice, a five Euro per day tourist charge to protect ancient heritage sites — experts say overtourism puts landmarks at risk globally — was put in place last April.

That didn’t stop a tourist from recently disrespecting a cemetery — by jumping into the adjacent canal for a swim.

Down in Sicily, officials are cracking down on banning mafia-related souvenirs .

Meanwhile in Spain, where overtourism has become the norm in some cities —  leading locals in Barcelona to go after tourists with water pistols recently — officials recently raised the idea of a fee for visitors to the Plaza de España in Seville .

“With the City Council’s budget alone we cannot preserve our heritage, nor guarantee the safety of the monument,” a frustrated Mayor Luis Sanz wrote on X.

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Tourist walks across Trevi Fountain in Rome to fill water bottle

ROME -- A woman left a group of tourists stunned when she used one of the most famous fountains in the world to fill up her water bottle.

Video circulating on social media shows the woman trespassing at the historic Trevi Fountain in Rome last month, prompting a guard to escort her away.

Lex Jones, who was visiting the popular tourist site, recorded the incident and told Storyful, "there were signs all over saying that's not allowed," adding "I was just like, wow, this is crazy so I started videoing it."

The footage shows a guard talking to the woman before eventually leading her away.

According to Jones, the woman "kept trying to explain her side and didn't really understand why she was in trouble."

Millions of tourists visit the Trevi Fountain every year and throw coins into its waters, making it one of the most beloved landmarks in Rome.

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From Trevi to Hidden Gems: 20 Fountains You Can’t Miss in Rome

By: Author Amanda OBrien

Posted on Last updated: 11/09/2024

There are few cities more beautiful than Rome. When walking the streets of Rome (by far the best way to experience the city) virtually every corner seems to have a stunning Italian landmark.

One of my personal favourite elements of Rome is the many beautiful fountains bubbling away across the city. Fountains have been in Rome for over 2000 years, providing both drinking water and decoration. In 98 AD Rome had nine aqueducts which fed 39 fountains.

Following the fall of the Roman empire, fountains in Rome fell in and out of favour. There were periods of disrepair and neglect as well as periods where new fountains were constructed. In the 17th and 18th century a new golden age for Rome Fountains emerged with the construction of baroque masterpieces across the city.

Today, all of Rome’s fountains have been rebuilt and use a mix of gravity and mechanical pumps plus recycled water from across the aqueducts to create these beautiful tourist attractions.

20 Beautiful Fountains in Rome

The fountains of Rome fall into one of four categories. Monumental fountains were built at the termini of Rome’s restored aqueducts to supply water to the population. Decorative fountains were designed for well decoration and to provide drinking water. Talking statues are fountains where the human sculptures within them seem to be speaking. Finally, there are wall fountains that are mounted onto walls.

Today, Rome has more than 2000 fountains. These vary from the monumental fountains to the tiny. Here are 20 of the most beautiful fountains in Rome.

1. Fontana di Trevi (Trevi Fountain)

How could I not start with this renowned Baroque-style fountain? It’s a true artwork, consisting of Carrara marble statues and sea reefs made from travertine. At the centre, you’ll see Neptune, flanked by two Tritons and sea horses, which is meant to represent the oceans’ alternate moods.

The Trevi Fountain is located at a junction of three roads and was one of the original sources of water in Ancient Rome. A competition was held in the 1700s by Pope Clement XII for a new design for the fountain. Nicola Salvi was awarded the prize.

The Trevi Fountain was finished in 1762, 11 years after Salvi died. Work on the fountain was completed by four other sculptors. More recently restorations have been conducted in 1988, 1998 and 2013.

Legend has it that if you throw one coin into the Trevi Fountain you will return to Rome. Two coins mean that you will return to Rome and you will fall in love. Three coins mean you will return to Rome, find love and marry.

The coin is supposed to be thrown by the right hand over the left shoulder for maximum results. In 2016 about USD$1.5 million was thrown into the Trevi Fountain. The money goes to the needy of Rome.

The Trevi Fountain is free to visit and gets very busy. The hours between midday and 7 pm tend to be the busiest so do try to avoid them. The fountain lights up once the sun goes down which can make for some lovely photos.

To reach Trevi Fountain, catch the metro to Piazza Barberini. From here, head west on Via del Tritone, then south on Via Stamperia until you reach the square where the fountain is situated.

2. Fontana Della Tartarughe (Turtle Fountain)

It isn’t difficult to figure out how Fontana Della Tartarughe got its name. This fountain in Piazza Mattei features bronzed turtles jumping off its top level. The original fountain was designed in the 1580s by Giacomo Della Porta. There were no turtles in the original design – these were added 100 years later by one of Rome’s most famous sculptors – Gian Lorenzo Bernini.

Piazza Mattei is named after the family that paid for the fountain in the 16th century. The fountain appears in a legend about the Mattei family. Apparently, the head of the Mattei family was a bit of a gambler. He is said to have made a bet with a nobleman that he could build a fountain in one evening.

The nobleman wasn’t aware that all of the preparatory work had been done for the fountain already and was just waiting for assembly. The legend is that the next morning Mr. Mattei proudly displayed his fountain to the nobleman and received his slightly ill-gotten gains.

3. Fontana Della Barcaccia (Fountain of the Leaky Boat)

The wonderfully named (well, this is the literal translation) Fontana Della Barcaccia is located in Piazza di Spagna and can be seen from the Spanish Steps. The fountain was commissioned by Pope Urban VII and was created by Pietro Bernini and his son Gian Lorenzo.

The design was inspired by the story of the flood of the river Tiber at Christmas of 1598. During that flood, Rome was completely covered in water, and the only way for residents to get around was by boat. The legend says that this boat was left in Piazza di Spagna and inspired the unique boat design.

4. Quattro Fontane (The Four Fountains)

These four late Renaissance fountains are located at the crossing of Via delle Quattro Fontane and Via del Quirinale. The four fountains were commissioned by Pope Sixtus V and were installed between 1588 and 1593. The first of the four fountains is said to represent the River Tiber.

The second fountain was inspired by the River Aniene, which provided most Roman aqueducts with water. The third and fourth fountains are believed to represent goddesses. The third is believed to be Goddess Diana, the symbol of chastity, and was designed by Pietro da Cortona.

The fourth fountain is believed to be Goddess Juno, the symbol of strength. This fountain, as well as the first and second fountains, were all the work of Domenico Fontana.

5. Fontana Delle Anfore (Fountain of the Amphorae)

This beautiful fountain in the Testaccio area of Rome was designed by Pietro Lombardi. Amphorae refer to the terracotta containers on which the fountain was based. Testaccio was a port area in Rome. These terracotta containers were used to bring items such as olive oil and dry goods into ancient Rome.

The oil from the goods seeped into the terracotta and made it impossible to reuse them. The amphorae were often broken into pieces which went on to form the artificial Mount Testaccio, for which the area is named. The fountain was installed in 1927. However, it was moved to Piazza sell Emporio in 1935 due to unstable soil conditions in Piazza Testaccio. The fountain returned to its original home in Testaccio in 2015.

6. Fontana Delle Rane (Fountain of the Frogs)

Fontana Delle Rane in Piazza Mincio was created between 1921 and 1927 by architect Gino Coppede. The fountain is a mix of different architectural styles which was intended to reflect the diversity of the neighborhood in which it is located. The lower basin or “pond” is a mix of masks and men supporting a large shell that contains a frog.

The upper edges of the fountain have eight more frogs who appear to be jumping over the water of the fountain. It is said that Coppede intended to pay homage to the Fountain of the Turtles with Fontana Delle Rane.

7. Fontana dei Quattro Fiumi (Fountain of the Four Rivers)

The beautiful Piazza Navona is home to three stunning fountains. Fontana Dei Quattro Fiumini was constructed for the Pope in 1651. The fountain was designed by Bernini. The centerpiece of the fountain is a tall obelisk which is surrounded by four figures which represent the great rivers of the world: Nile, Ganges, Danube, and Rio de la Plata.

I was pleased to discover that Australia had been discovered at this time but not explored and thus was left out of the fountain.

A dove, an olive branch, and the Pope’s coat of arms can be found at the bottom of the fountain.

8. Fontana di Nettuno (Neptune Fountain)

Fontana di Nettuno is the second of the three fountains in Piazza Navona. This fountain was built in 1576 by Giacomo Della Porto. Neptune statues were added in the 19th century. The main figure of the fountain is the God of Water, Neptune. Neptune is shown in battle with an octopus.

The third fountain is Fontana del Moro which is at the southern end of the Piazza.

9. Fontana del Tritone (Triton Fountain)

Fontana del Tritone was commissioned by Pope Urban VII in the 17th century. It was designed by Gian Lorenzo Bernini. This Rome fountain in Piazza Barberini was the first free-standing fountain designed by Bernini. This was the first time that the idea of a sculptural foundation which was found in villa gardens, was used in a public urban setting.

At the centre of the Triton Fountain is a muscular Triton who is depicted as a merman kneeling on the backs of four dolphins. The Triton’s head is thrown back and he has a conch raised to his lips. A jet of water spurts from the conch. The four dolphins at the base of the statue entwine a papal tiara and crossed keys.

10. Fontana dell Api (Fountain of the Bees)

This small but beautiful fountain is located not far from the Triton Fountain at the beginning of Via Vittorio Veneto. It was also designed by Bernini. The fountain was constructed in 1644 in honour of Pope Urban VIII Barberini. The bee was the symbol of the Barberini family.

The pope’s name is written on the seashell in the fountain. The seashell features an inscription that states that the fountain’s water is meant to be used by the general public and their animals.

11. Fontana dei Libri (Fountain of the Books)

This second small fountain was designed in 1927 by Pietro Lombardi. The fountain is a round arch with the head of a deer in its center. The deer is the symbol of the Sant’Eustachio district in which Fontana Dei Libri is located. On the sides of the fountain, four ancient books are carved into its shelves. Water flows from bookmark-shaped spouts in the fountain.

This fountain on Via Degli Staderai was in honor of the University of Sapienza. Today the state archives sit behind the wall of the fountain.

12. Fontana Dell’Acqua Paola (The Acqua Paola Fountain)

The Fontana Dell’Acqua Paola is one of the best-known fountains in Rome. It has appeared in various movies and songs. The fountain is also known as Fontanone del Giancolo or the big fountain on the Janiculus, as it rises at the top of that hill on Via Garibaldi.

The fountain was commissioned by Pope Paul V to celebrate the redevelopment of the Aqua Triana aqueduct. The goal of the redevelopment was to deliver water to Trastevere, Borgo, and the Vatican. The fountain was built by Giovanni Fontana and Flaminio Ponzio and was completed in 1614.

The red and gray marble columns of this Rome fountain have been part of the basilica of St Peter. The design was inspired by the ancient arches of triumph. It features five arches as well as the papal court of arms held by two angels. Dragons and heraldic eagles also feature in the fountain.

13. Fontana del Pantheon

This Rome fountain sits in Piazza Della Rotonda directly in front of the Pantheon. The fountain was designed by Giacomo Della Porta in 1571. It comprises four dolphins and was finished by Filippo Barigioni in 1576.

The fountain was restored in 1711 and topped with an Egyptian obelisk. The obelisk is from the reign of Ramses II and the obelisk was already more than 1000 years old when it was taken from Egypt by the emperor Domitian.

Fontana del Pantheon was the model of the Robba fountain, which stands in the town square of Llublijana in Slovenia.

14. Fontana Della Navicella (Fountain of the Small Boat)

The Fontana della Navicella sits in front of the church of Santa Maria in Domnica on via della Navicella. It was built in 1519 and is believed to have replaced an earlier fountain. From the central part of the boat’s bridge a jet of water emerges and lands in the basin underneath.

The ship is raised on a marble stone and inserted in a flowerbed. The coat of arms which appears on the fountain belongs to Pope Leo X Medici.

15. Fontana della Pigna (Fountain of the Pine Cone)

This unique pine cone fountain is located in St Peter’s in the Vatican in an area called the court of Pigna. The pine cone was cast out of bronze in the 1st or 2nd century by the sculptor Publius Cincius Salvius. His name is written on the base of the large pine cone.

Before its location in Vatican City, the pine cone was located in Campus Martius. In this location, it was used as a fountain. Water flowed from the holes pierced in the scales of the cone. The giant pine cone moved to its current location via the medieval basilica of St Peter’s in 1608.

16. Fontana Degli Artisti (Fountain of the Artists)

This Rome fountain on via Margutta was built by Pietro Lombardi in the 1920s. Via Margutta was considered the street of artists in the Campo Marzio district where it is located. The fountain has art as its theme to reflect the nature of the street on which it sits.

The fountain has a triangular base with two trestles and two masks that throw water. The top of the statue is a bucket containing brushes.

17. Fontana delle Botte (Fountain of the Barrel)

This fountain in Rome was also built by Pietro Lombardi in the 1920s. Located on via Della Cisterna, the fountain is set against a brick wall. A cask sits on the fountain’s base. A barrel, which transported wine in ancient Rome, sits above it with a central hole from which water emerges and flows to the cask below.

The area in which the fountain is located was known for taverns and trattoria and wine consumption and good times. Like the other fountains designed by Lombardi in the 1920s, the theme was to capture the spirit and activities of the local area in the design.

On each side of the barrel are one-liter terracotta wine containers from which water also emerges.

18. Fontana dell’Acqua Felice (Fountain of the Acqua Felice or Fountain of Moses)

This fountain at Piazza di San Bernardo marks the end of the Acqua Felice aqueduct. It was completed in the 1580s. It was an important occasion at the time, as Rome had not had a new aqueduct for many centuries. The name of the fountain came from the birth name of Pope Sixtus V, which was Felice Perreti.

This famous fountain in Rome was designed to resemble a Roman triumphal arch. The bottom half of the fountain consists of three arches. The central arch contains a statue of Moses. This statute of Moses has been quite controversial over the years. Its size and appearance have been heavily questioned.

⇒ Love Italy? Me too! You might enjoy reading about the Most Beautiful Cities in Italy , Most Famous Landmarks in Italy , Top Rome Monuments , Top Venice Landmarks , Bridges in Rome , Fountains in Rome , Venetian Palaces , How to Skip the Line at the Colosseum , Best Ski Resorts in Italy , Best Wineries in Montepulciano , Things to do in Rimini , Places to Visit in Puglia and Things to do in Sicily .

19. Fontana del Fachino (Fountain of The Porter)

Fontana del Fachino, or Il Fachino is one of the talking fountains of Rome and is located on via Lata. However, this fountain was originally designed to be a statue. It was created around 1580 and designed by Jacopo del Conte. The statue is of a man wearing a cap and a sleeved shirt.

He is carrying a barrel or acquarolo. These barrels were used to take water from the Tiber river to sell on the streets of Rome before the aqueducts were repaired. Water spouts from the center of the barrel, creating a fountain.

The statue was often thought to be of Martin Luther as the man wears a cap. As a result, it literally has had many stones thrown at it over the centuries, which have damaged the man’s face.

20. Fontana Delle Naiadi (Fountain of the Water Nymphs)

Fontana Delle Naiadi on Piazza della Repubblica was built in the 19th century. The fountain was originally decorated by four lions. The lions were replaced in the 20th century by Mario Rutelli’s bronze water nymphs or naiads. Each of the nymphs rests on a creature that represents the different forms of water: a swan (lakes), lizard (streams), seahorse (oceans) and water snake (rivers).

This famous fountains in Rome post includes affiliate links. That means if you click through and end up making a purchase I will receive a small commission. I wanted to make sure you were aware of this.

Amanda O’Brien is the creator and editor of The Boutique Adventurer. She has visited 80 countries and is a member of the British Guild of Travel Writers as well as the IFTWTA. She is passionate about wine had has just completed Level 3 of the WSET. Born in Australia, she lives in London.

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Amid Crowding and Congestion, Rome’s Trevi Fountain Could Soon Limit Access

A new proposal would mean that visitors would need to reserve a time slot for up-close viewing and coin tossing at the trevi fountain..

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The iconic landmark is struggling amid the chaos of mounting crowds and the resulting wear and tear. Now, the city of Rome wants to take action.

Photo by Dagnija Berzina/Unsplash

Soon, a selfie in front of the Trevi Fountain, one of Rome’s most iconic landmarks, could cost you more than the pocket change you use to make a wish. To preserve the eternal charm of its beloved fountain, the city of Rome is proposing a new idea to assuage the hordes: an entrance ticket.

Rome Mayor Roberto Gualtieri confirmed in an interview with national newspaper Il Sole 24 Ore that the city is indeed working on a proposal to curb tourist crowds at the Trevi Fountain with a limited-access reservation system.

“We are thinking about this very concrete hypothesis,” said Gualtieri, as he underlined that the current tourism numbers are making protection of the 18th-century monument increasingly difficult.

In the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been a notable surge in tourism, with a record-breaking 50 million visitors arriving in Rome in 2023. Predictions for 2025 indicate that visitors to Rome could nearly double, in part thanks to the Jubilee, a Catholic tradition dating back to the 1300s that is marked by pilgrimages and ceremonies. It’s hosted every quarter century in Rome and lasts throughout the entire year. What does this mean for a popular visitor draw such as the Trevi? Likely more crowds, trash, and pickpockets, resulting in more wear and tear to the monument and its surrounding piazza.

What we know so far about the proposed Trevi Fountain reservation system

Rome’s city council si currently considering the idea of requiring ticketed entry for access to Trevi Fountain. According to an Instagram Reel by councilman Alessandro Onorato, Rome is considering charging tourists, not residents, two euros for tickets. The reservation-only ticket would allow a limited number of visitors to access the front row of the fountain and would hypothetically also enforce a ban on food and litter near the UNESCO World Heritage site, addressing an ongoing issue with waste in the area.

While there won’t be any turnstiles, the city is spitballing the idea of creating two zones: The piazza would remain open for anyone to walk through freely, while those wanting to get up close to the fountain for the iconic coin toss and a photo would need to book a 30-minute time slot.

Since July 2023, a five-euro ticket is required for visiting the ancient Roman Pantheon temple.

Photo by Chris Czermak/Unsplash

This isn’t the first time Rome would be transitioning to a ticket system for a landmark that was previously open to the public. In July 2023, the Italian Ministry of Culture and Vatican church officials introduced a reserved ticket requirement for the Pantheon , one of ancient Rome’s greatest and most well-preserved temples, and in 2008, the Roman Forum went from local thoroughfare to ticket-only visits, both of which created much chagrin and long lines for visitors and residents.

“The ticket policy has created a maze at the Pantheon,” said archaeologist and Rome resident Darius Arya . “So creating a line at Trevi would be a disaster. It would change the mystique. Remember, the Trevi Fountain is an experience. It’s not a ride.”

At 86 feet in height and 161 feet in width, the Trevi Fountain is the largest fountain in the Eternal City, and its most lavish. Designed in 1732 by artist Nicola Salvi, the fountain is a thrilling scene of a larger-than-life Oceanus on a shell chariot being pulled by sea horses that tread across a humongous cascade of water. Ever since its completion in 1762, the beautiful baroque fountain has continuously drawn in visitors, including Anita Ekberg in Federico Fellini’s epic 1960 film La Dolce Vita.

The water that flows into Trevi comes from the Acqua Vergine, one of ancient Rome’s original aqueducts. As precious as both the water and fountain are, visitors haven’t been respectful or remotely kind. They’ve thrown bread in the fountain for pigeons, left trash on the ground, jumped in as Ekberg did, stripped down and bathed in the basin, and even dyed the water for protests.

In spite of the weekly cleaning and coin collections by the Catholic charity Caritas and a recent 2-million-euro restoration funded by Italian fashion label Fendi, the ongoing stresses on the fountain are almost unstoppable, which is exactly what the city of Rome hopes to reduce with the proposed ticket system.

“We want to make the visit to the Trevi Fountain truly an experience and not a chaotic jostling between one tourist and another to find the best selfie angle. And avoid having them arrive with a fast food bag,” added Onorato. “We want this monument to be protected.”

There’s a lot of buzz about the proposal, especially with the impending Jubilee and ongoing talks about how to curb overtourism, but don’t expect a ticket for the Trevi anytime soon. In Italy, it can take quite a while for matters to progress from proposal to actuality.

A wish at Rome's Trevi Fountain could soon cost more than the coin you toss

Rome city officials are considering a 2-euro fee to access rome’s famed trevi fountain., by leila el zabri | associated press • published september 7, 2024 • updated on september 7, 2024 at 10:09 am.

Seemingly every tourist in Rome knows the key to returning to the Eternal City is to toss a coin into the Trevi Fountain and make a wish. The result: Hoards of visitors packing the Baroque monument any given day, taking selfies and betting on a return trip.

Officials are now considering a plan to manage tourism to one of Rome’s most-visited sites: A 2-euro ($2.25) ticket to access an open-air fountain that has always been free of charge.

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The proposal by city’s top tourism official, Alessandro Onorato, comes after the Italian lagoon city of Venice tested a controversial 5-euro daytripper access fee to the city this summer. It must be deliberated by the City Council before it takes effect, but the city’s mayor, Roberto Gualtieri, has already voiced support.

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“Two euros is more or less the same amount that people toss into the fountain to make a wish,’’ Onorato told The Associated Press Friday.

Cities across the globe are grappling with how to manage the ever-growing number of tourists, who fuel the economy but can create inconveniences to residents by converging on the same top sites.

“We have to avoid, especially in a fragile art city like Rome, that too many tourists damage the tourist experience, and damage the city,’’ Onorato said. “We need to safeguard two things, that tourists don’t experience chaos and that citizens can continue to live in the center.”

Onorato said he hopes to test the entrance fee, which would be managed through a reservation system and a QR code, in time for the 2025 Jubilee Holy Year, and have the system operational by spring.

Passersby in the piazza overlooking the fountain will not have to pay. The fee would be charged only to those entering the nine stone steps leading up to the fountain's edge. It would be free to Romans.

Onorato said the system would also help discourage people from eating on the steps overlooking the fountain and feeding pigeons or, worse, from reenacting Anita Ekberg’s plunge into the fountain in Fellini’s “La Dolce Vita,” a frequently repeated offense that carries a fine.

“It would happen less, or maybe it wouldn’t happen at all, because whoever would enter, we would know their names and where they live. It becomes more complicated,’’ he said.

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I Love Everything About 'Emily in Paris' Except Her Tourist Blunder in Rome — and It Could Get Travelers Fined

Emily makes one major mistake in the new season and it's actually an illegal act in Rome.

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Look, there is nothing I look forward to more than brand-new episodes of "Emily in Paris." The entire show is a spectacle of fashion and frivolity and is a show I could watch over and over again. However, in season four, episode nine, Emily makes one major mistake I simply can't overlook. (Warning: There are very small spoilers ahead, so if you're not caught up and don't want to know even the tiniest details of what's to come, maybe save this story for after you binge-watch.)  

In the episode, Emily makes her way to Rome to visit her new love interest, Marcello, on his home turf. The two take a tour around the city, exploring some of its greatest sites, including the Colosseum and the Trevi Fountain, where Emily tosses a coin over her shoulder into the water, as every traveler really should do too.

Following a quick pit stop for wine and a snack, Emily and Marcello make their way to the Spanish Steps — and this is where the trouble starts. You see, the duo takes a seat on the steps, which is strictly forbidden. 

"Visitors are not allowed to sit on the steps. They are also forbidden to eat or write on the stairs," Antonio Di Maggio, director of the municipal police of Rome, shared in a statement at the time. "Besides, some behaviors are also banned, such as selling goods without permission or dressing up as an ancient Roman officer to take pictures with tourists. We are here to make people follow these rules."

In 2019, authorities in Rome banned sitting on the steps after they said too many tourists were spending too long relaxing on them, obstructing others from moving freely up and down the famous stairs. And it's not just that officers will shoo you away — sitting on the steps could incur a fine of 250 Euros (about $270) or up to 400 Euros ($443) if the steps are found to be damaged by your sitting, according to CBC. 

This isn't the only act that can get you in trouble in Rome. In 2019, authorities also passed other measures to protect monuments, including banning eating "messy" foods around historic sites. So no pizza, pasta, or gelato on the Spanish Steps or near the Trevi Fountain.

You also absolutely cannot drag or "bounce" a suitcase up or down the steps, as this, too, was banned in 2019. As Virginia Raggi, the mayor of Rome at the time stated : "Rome is, and always will be, welcoming, but that does not mean tolerating bad behavior and damage being done to our city."

Luckily for Emily, she has a hunky new Italian beau to carry her luggage for her and hand-feed her pasta (seriously) in a more appropriate setting.

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In Portugal, I learned to stop worrying and love – or at least tolerate – being a tourist

Overlooking neat rows of grapes on the hills near Pinhão, in the Douro Valley, Portugal. Adrian Lee/The Globe and Mail

I can’t imagine what it was that gave me away to the petite woman yanking a tiny glove onto my hand in the two-person showroom of Luvaria Ulisses, a 99-year-old leather-goods institution in Lisbon.

Maybe it was the chunky camera that slipped inelegantly off my shoulder as she shoved the glove down over my knuckles, or my big, ugly, sun-safe hat. Maybe the coffee I had brought in to help bridge my jet lag, or the handheld battery-powered fan hanging out of my sling bag, marked me.

The gloves shop Luvaria Ulisses, with its tiny Chiado storefront in a neoclassical style, was founded in 1925 by a former Lisbon city councillor. Adrian Lee/The Globe and Mail

Or maybe it was the concern that flickered over my face – that I might have to pay for a now-stretched glove I’d just wanted to try on, and I didn’t know any Portuguese beyond a thick-tongued obrigado – that did me in.

Whatever it was, her remark cut me: “Wow, you’re a real tourist!”

I felt like I’d been outed, caught red-handed in a brown glove. I’d been branded with that word that can’t help but be hissed: tourist.

Over the course of my relatively short travelling life, I’d learned that was the last thing I wanted to be. To be a tourist felt embarrassing and basic: They were mere followers in madding crowds, checking off attractions with an iPhone snap, and wearing vacation uniforms of Dri-Fit and khaki and thick walking shoes that broadcast that they were from elsewhere. Any place described as “too touristy” was a place to avoid.

Tourists, I believed, were other people – and thus, as Sartre famously said, hell. They are sheeple who entrap themselves on packaged, surface-level tours, complete passionless lists of TripAdvisor’s top-ranked must-sees, and trample the locals while mindlessly taking selfies. That couldn’t be me , of course – I’m the cool, high-minded traveller slinking through in shoulder season, gliding into lineless restaurants, stumbling across hidden gems, learning the history, and trying to blend in. Surely, I am more mindful, more demure, maybe even ... better?

The Pérgola da Nevogilde overlooks the Praia do Molhe in Foz, a beach district of Porto. Adrian Lee/The Globe and Mail

Tourists have even become a political issue. A month before my wife and I touched down in Portugal, protesters chanting “Tourists go home” sprayed visitors with water guns in neighbouring Spain. In March, Kyoto’s geisha district closed its picturesque alleyways amid increased harassment of the entertainers by blinkered tourists. All around Portugal, we saw tourism’s consequences – not just in the sweltering heat made worse by carbon-belching planes, but in stickers condemning Airbnb and its users for driving up rental prices. And the Portuguese newspaper Expresso reported last month that some Lisbon restaurants are secretly offering tourists menus with higher prices.

If you suspected you were being silently derided as an unwelcome tourist before, that fear is now being loudly validated.

But this August, owing to vacation-time complications, I found myself in Portugal at the very peak of peak season – that most hectic and hot slice of the summer when the vacationing tourist hordes jet-set to sunny climes, and a time I’ve always avoided for travel. And we only had a week to see a country for which I had no real context. Like it or not, I was going to be touring Portugal.

So, I leaned into being a tourist. And actually, I liked it.

Though I’d typically be disappointed to eat food that wasn’t local and unique to a place I was visiting, our dinner at Come Prima, a much-decorated Italian restaurant in Lisbon run by a Nepalese chef, was rewarded by some of the best pastas we’ve ever had.

Praça do Município, a square in Lisbon's Baixa district, is seen in the high sun of the mid-afternoon. Adrian Lee/The Globe and Mail

We signed up, with trepidation, for a daylong Douro Valley tour, and wound up making real connections with people from around the world, including the loving, jovial and hilariously self-deprecating family running the small Quinta da Bela winery, which overlooks a glorious vista we couldn’t have seen otherwise.

I even fell for Super Bock, Portugal’s bestselling and most common beer – not enough to buy a Super Bock branded T-shirt at one of the ubiquitous souvenir shops, but enough to understand, for the first time, why someone might pay for such cheap, impersonal swag.

In Lisbon, we took selfies at two tourist hotspots, the Jerónimos Monastery and the Belém Tower (crucially, we did not go in, because my loathing for lines endures), and downed sour-cherry liqueur at Ginjinha Sem Rival. In Porto, I gawked at the peacocks striding across the Jardins do Palácio de Cristal, learned my wife loves tawny port on a wine-cave tour and indulged in a Francesinha sandwich at Café Santiago, which was on all the must-do lists. I walked around in shiny athletic wear, accepting that the style downgrade was worth mitigating how sweaty I was getting in the heat. I took flat-lay photos at Michelin-starred restaurants, chased golden hour at a rooftop bar in the ancient Alfama district and posted everything on Instagram.

The sun starts to set on Porto's busy harbourfront. The municipality of Gaia can be seen across the Douro River. Adrian Lee/The Globe and Mail

Nothing was obscure, and everything was beautiful.

Even the places that seemed like they’d be tourist traps felt anything but basic. Pastéis de Belém, the first shop to sell the famous Portuguese custard tart and which still uses the original centuries-old recipe handed down by monks, more than lived up to the hype: A crispy exterior rings a pocket of cream that threatens to spill out after a bite, all perfectly balanced by cinnamon and icing sugar. (We proceeded to have one tart from a different place every day of our trip.)

At Lisbon’s seafood institution Cervejaria Ramiro and the Porto snack bar Gazela , the Anthony Bourdain-approved dishes (stone crab and roe served in its own carapace, and crunchy sausage-and-cheese rolls called cachorrinhos, respectively) were as delicious as they looked on his TV shows . (Ironically, the late Bourdain – who made a name on the rather judgmental mantra “Be a traveller, not a tourist” – has spawned a tourist subculture centred around restaurants he visited; his face loomed large in a photo collage at Gazela.)

What I realized is that when I stand in smug judgment of tourists, I’m spending time worried about how I’m being judged – meaning that I was missing as much as I thought the tourists were. I started to acknowledge that being a tourist is an unavoidable fact of travel, regardless of my approach, simply because I am from elsewhere. Not only can I not hide that, I shouldn’t.

Travelling with a tourist’s overtness – collecting as many sights as you can, no matter how well known – is no better or worse than trying to blend in. It’s just another way of enjoying that most precious of things: time off. What all travellers can do better, though, is accept that we can never truly understand a country, and aim to just be good houseguests.

Even Portugal’s signature author, José Saramago, looked down on tourists. “The traveller has seen much of the world and of life, and has never felt comfortable in the role of a tourist who goes somewhere, takes a look at it, thinks he understands it, takes photos of it and returns to his own country boasting that he knows the Alfama,” he harrumphed in his book Journey to Portugal. But he also acknowledged his resentment stemmed from a feeling that tourists were rearranging the country’s furniture – and from a kind of envy. “The foreigners come to Portugal and we have to make them feel at home in a way the traveller would love to find himself made to feel at home in their countries,” he bemoaned.

Places we visit don’t owe us anything, and so they always overdeliver – and we could probably do better at meeting that measure as hosts at home, too.

So yes: I am a tourist, just like all the others. Still, I can try to be a better one – one who simply meets people where and as they are. As Paige McClanahan, author of The New Tourist: Waking Up to the Power and Perils of Travel, told the BBC , the modern tourist should be “someone who realizes they’re an ambassador for their country and comes looking to make authentic human connections with people who live in the place, not to just consume and tick a box.”

Toward the end of our trip, my wife shared her go-to trick for understanding a new foreign city better: Go for a morning run. I’m training for a 5K race anyway, so I decide to lace up my shoes and start jogging along the Douro River.

As I trot away from downtown Porto’s clamour, a barista setting up his signage for the day nods when I pass. I start to feel like I’m undercover, and it’s a heady feeling. I wave to a runner going the other way – and I let myself wonder if he thinks I live here, part of this coalition of the waking. “Maybe I’m not that much of a tourist,” I think, gazing at the river as old habits reform in my head. I extend my run, past the wine caves and under the Ponte da Arrábida, which stretches into suburban Porto. “Surely,” I muse proudly, “not a lot of tourists make it to this bridge!”

And that’s when I trip on some upturned cobblestone, tumbling to the ground and ripping my legs raw. As my road rash starts to bleed, nearby fishermen rush to my aid and speak with concern in Portuguese, and I know the jig is up: “I only know English,” I admit.

If only I’d accepted that “tourist” fits me like a glove.

Enjoying tarts, a duck pie and a coffee from Pasteis de Belem on a park bench in the Jardim Afonso De Albuquerque. Adrian Lee/The Globe and Mail

The House on Pink Street may sit on the main vein of Lisbon’s rowdy nightlife, but its thoughtfully designed apartment-style rooms manage to block the noise, part of what made it an incredibly comfortable stay. The staff at the hotel, and at its sister hotel, the Corpo Santo (where House visitors can enjoy the 24-hour self-serve ice-cream machine), set new standards for hospitality, too. housepinkstreet.com , rates start at €198 ($296).

Two employees of the Juliana Penteado pastry shop take a break in the São Bento neighbourhood. Adrian Lee/The Globe and Mail

In a city full of wine bars, Uva Livre’s market advantage is its gregarious sommelier, Justin O’Hanlon, who is, based on how he knew just about everyone who walked by, the apparent mayor of Lisbon’s hip São Bento neighbourhood. Sit at the buzzing communal table that is his fiefdom, enjoy a customized and insightful tasting of wines from Portugal and beyond, and take a hard-to-find bottle to go. Then stumble five minutes down the road to Copa, a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it nook and try Justin’s favourite cocktail: a roast-banana cachaça old-fashioned, served with a big hand-stamped ice cube. I still think about that drink. @uva.livre @copalisboa

Every other Saturday, the Feira da Ladra – Lisbon’s open-air flea market – takes over a few Alfama intersections as vendors lay out all manner of trash and treasure. While you’re there, don’t miss the ceramics store Campo Sta Clara Cerâmicas, whose owners clearly put their hearts into their bright, traditional-with-a-twist dishware. @campo_santa_clara

Blending influences from South America and Asia, as well as from Portugal’s tasca taverns, Trinca’s little kitchen turns out big flavours in Lisbon. The steak-and-turnip pica-pau and the black ceviche were highlights from a creative, ever-evolving menu. @restaurantetrinca

A couple looks out from the balcony of a building along Porto's Douro River harbourfront. Adrian Lee/The Globe and Mail

After a hot afternoon of shopping at vintage stores and galleries in Porto’s Arts Quarter (we loved Cor Propria), stop at nearby Genuino, a natural-wine bar run by a Brazilian couple who’ve instilled the cozy, stylish space with the energy of their home. Standout small plates include a risotto socarrat and fried potatoes on bisque you could lick off the plate. Cozy means small, though, so get a reservation (a good idea everywhere, actually). Cor Propria, @genuino.porto

The sun sets over Lisbon, as seen from the panoramic top-floor terrace of Chapitô à Mesa. Adrian Lee/The Globe and Mail

Garrafeiro do Carmo , in Porto’s Miragaia neighbourhood, will reward any wine lover who suspects that the cabal of port producers glutting the Douro waterfront is hiding the best stuff. Talk to Jorge, one of this snug shop’s warm, patient experts, and he’ll give you an honest opinion (without upselling!) about what to bring home – and for less than most other stores, too. garrafeiracarmo.com

Editor’s note: This article has been updated to correct the caption describing the second photo from the bottom. The building sits along the Douro River harbourfront.

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