Overview
- Police pulled a 30-year-old visitor from New Zealand from the Trevi Fountain after he dived in fully clothed, ignored orders to leave the water, and received a €500 fine with a reported ban from returning.
- A TikTok clip of the jump drew more than 12 million views, pushing the episode across social media within hours.
- Comments online called the act disrespectful and said the penalty was too light, with many urging steeper fines or tougher enforcement.
- The fountain sees heavy crowds each day and more than 9 million visitors a year, and officials say rule-breaking has recurred, including a similar case last winter involving another New Zealander.
- Rome began charging foreign visitors €2 to reach the fountain’s edge in February 2026, raising about €1.3 million in three months, yet critics argue the fee and current fines do not discourage copycats.