ROME — Rome is planning to restrict access to the Trevi Fountain, one of the city’s most popular landmarks, as it anticipates a surge in tourism in the coming year, according to city council officials.

The capital is gearing up for the 2025 Jubilee, a year-long Roman Catholic celebration expected to draw in about 32 million visitors and pilgrims.

The proposal requires visitors to book their visits in advance, with designated time slots and a cap on the number of individuals allowed close to the fountain’s steps.

“For residents, entry would be free, but we would ask non-residents for a small fee, ranging from one to two euros (around $2.21),” said Alessandro Onorato, Rome’s tourism councilor, in a recent interview with Il Messaggero.

On Wednesday, Mayor Roberto Gualtieri suggested that limiting visitor numbers could be a “real possibility.”

“Managing the crowds at the Trevi Fountain is becoming increasingly challenging,” he mentioned to reporters.

Similar issues are arising in other cities, such as Barcelona and Venice, where officials have tested charging entry fees for visitors this year.

Completed in 1762, this monument is considered a stunning example of late Baroque architecture. It features sculptures of Tritons steering Oceanus’s shell chariot, which symbolizes the control of water.

It’s also famous for a memorable scene in Federico Fellini’s film “La Dolce Vita,” where actress Anita Ekberg splashes in the fountain and invites her co-star Marcello Mastroianni to come in: “Marcello! Come here!” ($1 = approximately 0.91 euros)