New fee to get close to Rome's Trevi Fountain Authorities in Italy's capital city, Rome, have decided to charge tourists a fee to get close to the city's world-famous Trevi Fountain. From the first of February, visitors will have to pay two euros to experience the landmark close up. One reason for the new measure is to address the burgeoning numbers of sightseers who are flocking to the sight. Similar to many other tourist hotspots around the world, the famed fountain is suffering from the effects of overtourism. There has been serious congestion in the peak months of summer. Large crowds and people vying for selfies have diminished the ambiance of the historic fountain. Visitors have also damaged the stonework surrounding it.
義大利首都羅馬的當局決定向遊客收費，以便靠近這座世界聞名的特雷維噴泉。自 2 月 1 日起，遊客必須支付 2 歐元才能近距離欣賞這個地標。此舉的原因之一是要應對蜂擁而至的大量觀光客。和世界上許多其他熱門景點一樣，這座著名噴泉正遭受「過度旅遊」的影響。在夏季旅遊高峰期，嚴重的擁擠情況出現。大量人群和爭相自拍的遊客削弱了這座歷史噴泉的氛圍。遊客也破壞了周圍的石雕。
Rome's mayor, Roberto Gualtieri, said the "Trevi levy" was expected to raise 6.5 million euros ($7.6 million) a year. Gualtieri said that on average, around 30,000 people visited the attraction every day this year. That amounts to over ten million visitors. However, city residents will be exempt from paying the tourist tax. The mayor said: "We believe that culture is a fundamental right of citizenship." He added: "We think it's correct and positive that the citizens of Rome can enjoy our museums free of charge." The fountain was initially commissioned in 1640 and was completed in 1762. It depicts Oceanus, the god of all water, and symbolizes the vast, untamed force of the world's seas and rivers.羅馬市長羅伯托·瓜爾蒂耶里（Roberto Gualtieri）表示，這項「特雷維稅」預計每年可籌得 650 萬歐元（約 760 萬美元）。他說，今年平均每天約有 30,000 人參觀這個景點，總計超過一千萬人次。不過，羅馬市民將免於支付這項旅遊稅。市長說：「我們相信文化是公民的基本權利。」他補充道：「我們認為讓羅馬市民免費享受我們的博物館是正確且積極的。」這座噴泉最初於 1640 年下令建造，並於 1762 年完工。它描繪了水神奧克阿努斯（Oceanus），象徵著世界海洋與河流浩瀚、未被馴服的力量。
Vocabulary
- Authorities (noun) - Officials in charge.
- Landmark (noun) - Famous building or place.
- Measure (noun) - Action or step.
- Burgeoning (adjective) - Rapidly increasing.
- Flocking (verb) - Going in large numbers.
- Hotspots (noun) - Popular places.
- Overtourism (noun) - Too many tourists.
- Congestion (noun) - Overcrowding.
- Vying (verb) - Competing.
- Diminished (verb) - Reduced or lessened.
- Ambiance (noun) - Atmosphere or mood.
- Levy (noun) - Tax or fee.
- Exempt (adjective) - Free from (not having to pay).
- Fundamental (adjective) - Basic or essential.
- Commissioned (verb) - Ordered to be built.
- Depicts (verb) - Shows or portrays.
- Symbolizes (verb) - Represents.
- Untamed (adjective) - Wild or uncontrolled.
