Rome’s Trevi Fountain has opened an elevated walkway to give tourists a closer look during cleanup

ROME – A suspended walkway was opened on November 9, allowing tourists to get an up-close look at Rome’s Trevi Fountain. This is a temporary addition while the famous La Dolce Vita movie set is cleaned up.

The Baroque masterpiece built on the facade of the palace is one of the most popular spots in Rome, Italy, with tourists trying to throw their coins into the water despite the crowds.

While the fountain is being cleared of limestone deposits and dirt, the walkway above its basin will be able to accommodate about 130 people at a time to get a closer look.

This will give tourists “an experience that is not spoiled by excessive crowds,” said Rome Mayor Roberto Gualtieri.

“We wanted to give everyone a chance to admire the fountain and do it from a unique perspective because what you see from the walkway is something you can never see properly,” he said.

French tourist Frank Petretto, 50, was one of the first to cross the passage, calling the view “wonderful and very, very beautiful.”

“Even without the water flowing inside the fountain, you can really see that the architecture is serious… and that’s really quite nice,” he said.

Ms Michaela di Caterina, a 32-year-old visiting from Argentina, agreed, saying the detailed look at the intricate sculptures of Oceanus, the father of the river gods, and his seahorses was “incredible”.

Still, she admitted, it was “a little weird” walking over the fountain.

The fountain, where actress Anita Ekberg frolicked in director Federico Fellini’s 1960 film La Dolce Vita, last underwent a thorough cleaning a decade ago during an 18-month renovation sponsored by Fendi.

At the same time, the Italian fashion house installed a plexiglass bridge over the pool, allowing tourists to still admire the fountain.

Ongoing work includes removing limestone deposits on the fountain’s façade, which can turn black over time, as well as removing loose material between the stones where vegetation grows.

Tourists will not be allowed to throw coins over their shoulders into the bowl of the fountain – according to tradition, visitors who do so will be returned to Rome.

Instead, a small pool was installed next to the path for depositing change.

The pool “allows us to avoid throwing coins, which without water would damage the fountain,” Mr. Gualtieri said, adding that anyone who did so would be fined.

This will also allow donations to continue flowing to those in need in Rome.