You’ve probably seen the viral TikToks of a tiny, plastic-looking "bathtub" filled with water in the middle of Rome. It looks a bit sad. Honestly, it's sparked a lot of panic among travelers asking: is the Trevi Fountain closed? If you’ve been dreaming of that iconic Lizzie McGuire moment or just want to toss a coin to ensure your return to the Eternal City, the current state of Nicola Salvi’s masterpiece might come as a shock.
Rome is currently in the middle of its "Jubilee year" preparations. For 2025 and heading into 2026, the city is basically one giant construction site. The Trevi Fountain isn't "closed" in the sense that it's boarded up and invisible, but it is definitely undergoing a massive facelift. This isn't just a quick scrub. We are talking about a major €300,000 restoration project aimed at fixing calcium deposits, loose grout, and the general wear and tear that comes with millions of tourists breathing on it every year.
The Metal Walkway and the "Pool" Situation
Right now, the main basin of the fountain is drained. It’s dry. Instead of the cascading turquoise water you see on postcards, there’s a massive metal scaffolding structure and a transparent walkway—a passerella—suspended over the basin.
The city officials, led by Rome's Mayor Roberto Gualtieri, decided to install this walkway to give tourists a "unique perspective." It’s a bit of a polarizing move. Some people love being able to see the intricate details of the sculptures, like the horses and the figure of Oceanus, from just a few feet away. Others think it ruins the aesthetic. If you're looking for that perfect, unobstructed photo for your grid, you're probably going to be disappointed. The walkway is narrow and only allows a certain number of people at a time to prevent overcrowding.
Because the main fountain is dry, you can’t exactly toss a coin into the empty basin. Well, you could, but it would likely hit a worker in a hard hat or bounce off a marble statue. To keep the tradition alive (and to keep the revenue flowing for the charity Caritas), the city installed a small, rectangular wooden pool at the edge of the construction fence.
It’s been mocked relentlessly online. People call it a "footbath" or a "kiddie pool." But honestly? It serves a purpose. It keeps the coins in one place so they can be collected and used to feed the city's homeless and low-income families. Just don't expect it to look glamorous.
Why is the Trevi Fountain closed to its normal state right now?
It comes down to the 2025 Holy Year, or Giubileo. Rome expects upwards of 30 million pilgrims and tourists. The sheer volume of people is terrifying for city planners. The Trevi Fountain is one of the biggest bottlenecks in the city.
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The restoration is part of a broader plan to manage these crowds. The city is actually using this "closure" period to test a new ticketing system. For years, there has been talk about charging for access to the fountain area. While it’s not fully implemented as a permanent "pay-to-see" site yet, the walkway is the first step toward a restricted-entry model. They want to limit the number of people standing on the steps at any given time to protect the stone and prevent pickpocketing, which is rampant in that specific square.
Maintenance vs. Full Closure
The fountain undergoes routine maintenance every Monday and Thursday morning. During these times, the water is turned off for a few hours so workers can vacuum out the coins. But this current situation is different. This is structural.
The stone used—travertine—is porous. It’s the same stuff the Colosseum is made of. Over time, the humidity from the water and the pollution from Rome’s chaotic traffic cause the stone to blacken or crumble. If they didn't do this now, the fountain would eventually start losing chunks of its facade.
If you are visiting in early 2026, you should expect the scaffolding to stay up through the first quarter of the year. The goal is to have it sparkling and fully functional by the peak of the Jubilee celebrations, but as anyone who has lived in Italy knows, "deadlines" are often more like "suggestions."
Surviving a Visit During Restoration
If you’ve already booked your flights, don't cancel them. Rome is still Rome. But you have to pivot.
First, go early. Even with the walkway and the scaffolding, the Piazza di Trevi is packed by 9:00 AM. If you get there at 6:30 AM, you can see the statues without the roar of the crowds, and the morning light hitting the marble is still pretty magical, even with some metal bars in the way.
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Second, manage your expectations about the coin toss. If the "bathtub" pool feels too cheesy for you, skip it. There are dozens of other incredible fountains in Rome where you can experience the city’s water culture without the construction.
- Piazza Navona: The Fountain of the Four Rivers is just as impressive and usually doesn't have a plastic pool in front of it.
- The Fontana dell'Acqua Paola: Located on the Janiculum Hill, this one offers a better view of the city and is much more peaceful.
- The Triton Fountain: Bernini’s masterpiece in Piazza Barberini is often overlooked but stunning.
The Future of the Trevi Experience
What’s most interesting—and maybe a bit annoying—is that the "closure" of the main basin might become the new normal in terms of access. The city is seriously considering a 1 or 2 Euro fee for tourists to enter the lower tier of the fountain area. Romans would still get in for free.
This isn't just a money grab. The crowd density at the Trevi is genuinely dangerous sometimes. People get into literal fistfights over the best selfie spots. By restricting access via the walkway or a future gate system, the city hopes to make it a "slow tourism" experience rather than a mosh pit.
Actionable Advice for Your Trip
Check the official "Soprintendenza Speciale di Roma" website before you go. They post updates on the progress of major monuments. If you see that the Trevi Fountain closed status has shifted to "water testing," you might be in luck.
If you're there while the walkway is open, use it. It’s free (for now) and offers a view of the "Abundance" and "Salubrity" statues that you literally cannot get from the ground. It’s a rare chance to see the fountain as the restorers see it.
Pack your patience. Rome in 2026 is a marathon of navigating around "Lavori in Corso" (Work in Progress) signs. The Trevi is just one piece of the puzzle. Wear comfortable shoes, keep your wallet in a front pocket or a zipped bag, and remember that even a scaffolded Trevi Fountain is better than no Trevi Fountain at all.
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Skip the midday rush. The lights on the scaffolding at night actually make the fountain look like a modern art installation. It’s different, it’s weird, but it’s a story to tell. You can say you saw the Trevi during the great restoration of the 2020s.
Look for the small details. Notice the different types of plants carved into the rock. There are over 30 species of plants depicted in the stone, from grapes to figs. Without the water crashing down, you can actually spot them more easily.
Stop by the nearby San Maria in Via church. It’s right around the corner and has its own "miraculous" well. It’s a much more quiet, spiritual way to engage with Rome’s water history if the chaos of the Trevi construction gets to be too much.
Prepare for the "new" Rome. The city is evolving. The Trevi project is the blueprint for how major landmarks will be managed in the future—less "free-for-all" and more "managed museum." It might feel less spontaneous, but the goal is to make sure the fountain is still standing in another 300 years.
Check the local Roman newspapers like La Repubblica or Il Messaggero for the most current weekly updates on the scaffolding removal schedule. Often, the city will remove sections of the metal structure incrementally, so you might catch a glimpse of the finished cleaning before the whole project is officially unveiled. If you see workers on the walkway, it means the restoration is in active progress—early morning is the best time to watch them work if you're interested in the technical side of art preservation.
Avoid the souvenir shops immediately surrounding the piazza. They are notorious for overcharging. If you want a memento of your visit, walk three or four blocks away toward the Pantheon or the Quirinal Hill, where the prices drop and the quality of the leather and paper goods actually goes up.
Final tip: keep your eyes up. While the Trevi's basin might be a construction zone, the upper tiers and the surrounding architecture remain visible. Rome's beauty is vertical, not just horizontal. Look at the coat of arms of Pope Clement XII at the very top—it's still there, presiding over the mess, just as it has for centuries.