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 Ministry of Culture Selects 20 Research Proposals for Camel Studies Grant

Saudi Ministry of Culture Selects 20 Research Proposals for Camel Studies Grant
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Saudi Ministry of Culture Selects 20 Research Proposals for Camel Studies Grant

Saudi Ministry of Culture Selects 20 Research Proposals for Camel Studies Grant

The Saudi Ministry of Culture has completed the assessment and selection process for the Camel Studies Grant, which was introduced last June in collaboration with the Ministry of Environment, Water, and Agriculture, along with King Faisal University.

The grant targets researchers interested in camel-related studies, with a focus on boosting cultural research output in areas connected to cultural, social, and economic aspects through scientific exploration across diverse specialized fields in the camel sector.

Out of 405 applications from 15 countries, the ministry has chosen 20 research proposals that met the necessary criteria. The selected researchers will receive financial and scientific assistance throughout their research endeavors that will eventually lead to the publication of scientific papers, reported the Saudi Press Agency on Wednesday.

The grant covers six key areas: historical, cultural, social, economic, environmental, and health dimensions; the objective is to examine relevant subjects with modern concepts, theories, and methodologies.

The grant is part of the activities carried out under the "2024, The Year of the Camel" initiative, which coincides with the United Nations General Assembly declaring 2024 as the International Year of Camelids.

The grant seeks to encourage the study of the camel as a symbol of Saudi culture, preserve the national heritage, highlight the intangible heritage linked to camels in the Kingdom, strengthen national identity, and promote Saudi culture on the global stage.