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.



Tanweer Festival in UAE to Showcase Diverse Cultural Expressions

Held in the Mleiha Desert, Sharjah, this event will feature three days of artistic and cultural activities. WAM
Held in the Mleiha Desert, Sharjah, this event will feature three days of artistic and cultural activities. WAM
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Tanweer Festival in UAE to Showcase Diverse Cultural Expressions

Held in the Mleiha Desert, Sharjah, this event will feature three days of artistic and cultural activities. WAM
Held in the Mleiha Desert, Sharjah, this event will feature three days of artistic and cultural activities. WAM

The three-day Tanweer Festival 2024, themed "Timeless Echoes of Love and Light," will bring an immersive cultural gathering to the UAE on November 22, Emirates News Agency (WAM) reported.

Inspired by the legacy of Jalal al-Din Al Rumi, the festival invites global audiences to engage in shared expressions of music, art, poetry, and cultural exchange, WAM said.

Held in the Mleiha Desert, Sharjah, this event will feature three days of artistic and cultural activities, with over 100 musicians from more than 15 nations, performing across four uniquely designed stages, along with ten workshops and immersive art installations.

The festival’s program integrates performances by renowned artists such as Sami Yusuf, Dhafer Youssef, Kamal Musallam, and Constantinople with Ghalia Benali, each contributing to a diverse artistic atmosphere.

The event will include ten workshops aimed at enhancing creative skills and understanding cultural traditions, from Sufi whirling to calligraphy lighting, led by experienced practitioners.

Visitors can also explore art installations by visionary artists such as Karim + Elias, Ahmad Kattan, and Omar Al Gurg, which will provide reflective and inspirational experiences.

Tanweer’s “Nourish” culinary area will feature 12 vendors offering local and international dishes, reflecting the festival’s ethos of cross-cultural connection through food.

The marketplace will host 14 local and international artisans, showcasing handcrafted items and sustainable goods that celebrate diverse artistic traditions.