The Trevi Fountain is looking a little different at the moment, with tourists being asked to toss their coins into a makeshift pool. No matter what time of year, you will find hordes of tourists surrounding the 18th-century masterpiece in Rome, engaging in the age-old tradition of tossing a coin over their left shoulder which, according to legend, ensures you will one day return to the Italian capital.

However, over the past few days visitors have had to toss their coins into a makeshift pool in front of the famous fountain after it had to be drained for maintenance. American students Olivia Nieporte and Fiona Hastings were left a bit stunned when they spotted the small pool.

“I did chuckle to myself when I first saw it,” Olivia told The Guardian, with Fiona adding, “It’s still amazing”.

While their coin landed in the temporary pool, others weren’t so lucky with one visitor from Milan telling the publication, “It is much more of a challenge with the barrier there”.

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“It is funny to look at, but I guess it gives you a unique experience,” Fausto Pastori said.

One tourist branded the substitute pool as “ugly”, telling Euronews that she gave her kids some coins to throw in anyway. 

“We have to please the children,” she said.

Reuters reported that in 2022 Caritas collected 1.4 million euros – about $A2.2 million — from the water and it expects to have gathered even more in 2023. The marble monument was emptied to allow for maintenance work that forms part of a wider beautification project readying the Eternal City for next year’s Jubilee.

The holy event, presided over by the Roman Catholic Church, takes place every 25 years. To manage the overwhelming number of tourists visiting the fountain, Rome City officials are devising a plan to block off the area around the landmark. Visitors will also be required to book online and then pay a fee of 2 euros ($A3.30) to get in and will have 30 minutes to enjoy the fountain.

This article originally appeared in news.com.au. It was republished here with permission. 

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