The Beloved Italian Tourist Spot Now Charges an Entrance Fee, Here’s What to Know Before You Go

New entrance fees for Rome’s famous Trevi Fountain are now in effect, requiring travelers to pay up for the chance to throw a coin into the historic site.

The new fee, which started on Feb. 2 in an effort to reduce crowding, requires tourists and non-residents to pay €2 ($2.36) for a ticket to visit the front area of the Trevi Fountain, according to Rome’s official tourism department. The fee is required every day from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m.

The admission ticket can be purchased online in advance, at the city’s civic museums, from tourist info points, from authorized retailers, or at the entrance to the fountain, according to the Trevi Fountain’s website.

Roman residents, young children up to 5 years old, and people with disabilities and their carers are exempt from the admission fee.

“The admission ticket helps protect the Trevi Fountain and ensure better maintenance,” officials wrote on the fountain’s website.

Rome’s Assessor of Tourism Alessandro Onorato told The Associated Press he believes the fee is quite moderate.

“I think tourists were shocked by the fact that the city of Rome is only asking for 2 euros for a site of this level,” Onorato said. “I believe that if the Trevi Fountain were in New York, they would have charged at least $100.”

In addition to the fee to visit the Trevi Fountain, the city will now charge a new €5 ($5.90) tourist ticket fee to enter some museums, the AP noted. With the new fees, the wire service reported officials estimate the city could earn an extra €6.5 million ($7.6 million) per year.

The current Trevi Fountain was first constructed in the 1700s after being commissioned by Pope Clement XII, according to Rome’s tourism site. The fountain then underwent a restoration from 1989 to 1991, and again in 2014. In its long history, it’s been featured in countless movies and is a must-see for visitors to the Eternal City.

Many visitors today choose to toss a coin into the fountain since it’s believed that if you do, you’ll return to Rome. Moreover, those looking for romance or marriage can toss a second or third coin in for a bit of good luck. The tradition is so popular that officials collect about $10,500 each week to give to charity.

Travelers hoping to visit the fountain without paying can still see it from afar. The admission fee is only required to enter the internal perimeter of the basin.