Tourists Toss Coins over a Makeshift Pool as Rome’s Trevi Fountain Undergoes Maintenance

 A small pool is seen in front of the Trevi Fountain to allow tourists to throw their coins in it, as the fountain has been emptied to undergo maintenance work that will last until around September 2025, in Rome, Friday, Nov. 1, 2024. (AP)
A small pool is seen in front of the Trevi Fountain to allow tourists to throw their coins in it, as the fountain has been emptied to undergo maintenance work that will last until around September 2025, in Rome, Friday, Nov. 1, 2024. (AP)
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Tourists Toss Coins over a Makeshift Pool as Rome’s Trevi Fountain Undergoes Maintenance

 A small pool is seen in front of the Trevi Fountain to allow tourists to throw their coins in it, as the fountain has been emptied to undergo maintenance work that will last until around September 2025, in Rome, Friday, Nov. 1, 2024. (AP)
A small pool is seen in front of the Trevi Fountain to allow tourists to throw their coins in it, as the fountain has been emptied to undergo maintenance work that will last until around September 2025, in Rome, Friday, Nov. 1, 2024. (AP)

Tourists eager to return to the Eternal City are being forced to toss coins over a plastic barrier and into a small makeshift pool in front of Rome’s Trevi Fountain while the attraction is being drained for maintenance.

The rectangular box, unadorned and showing its plywood finish, has elicited mixed reactions. “I think it is a very sweet gesture that people can still do that," said Marianna Strekstadt, visiting from the Netherlands on Friday. A cashless traveler, she was taking a pass.

Others, like Daniela Carbone, found the substitute pool “ugly.” Yet, she gave her kids some coins to throw in anyway. “We have to please the children,” she said.

City lore has it that tossing a coin into the Baroque fountain will ensure a return trip to Rome. This tradition generates an estimated 1.5 million euros ($1.6 million) annually, which has been donated to the Catholic charity Caritas for the past 15 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 fountain. Visitors will be required to book online and then pay a fee of 2 euros ($2.20) to get in. Once inside, they will have 30 minutes to enjoy the fountain.



Saudi Arabia's Camel Year 2024 Initiative Participates in 'Banan' Week

The year 2024 has been named the Year of the Camel in celebration of the cultural and civilizational significance of camels
The year 2024 has been named the Year of the Camel in celebration of the cultural and civilizational significance of camels
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Saudi Arabia's Camel Year 2024 Initiative Participates in 'Banan' Week

The year 2024 has been named the Year of the Camel in celebration of the cultural and civilizational significance of camels
The year 2024 has been named the Year of the Camel in celebration of the cultural and civilizational significance of camels

The Year of the Camel 2024 initiative, a Ministry of Culture project, participated in the Saudi International Handicrafts Week (Banan) Exhibition at Riyadh's Roshn Front with a pavilion informing the public about the initiative and celebrating camels as a key component of Saudi culture.
The pavilion at Banan presents educational content about camels through panels and a display screen. It also features prominent rock engravings scattered across the Kingdom, reflecting the importance of camels from pre-Islamic times, early Islamic periods, and subsequent eras.
The pavilion also showcases some camel-related products typically made by craftspeople, such as the "shaddad," a wooden seat placed on the camel's hump for the rider, and the "khirj," consisting of two attached bags placed over the shaddad and hanging down its sides to store the rider's personal belongings.
This participation is part of the activities and efforts of the Year of the Camel 2024 initiative, through which the Ministry of Culture aims to celebrate camels in both local and international forums and introduce visitors to camels as a historical source of pride for Saudis.
The year 2024 has been named the Year of the Camel in celebration of the cultural and civilizational significance of camels and in recognition of their esteemed status in Saudi society and their enduring connection with the people of the Arabian Peninsula throughout history.