Tourist fined after diving into Rome’s Trevi Fountain

A tourist in Rome has been fined after jumping into the iconic Trevi Fountain and swimming in it, The Telegraph reports.

Fully clothed in jeans, a long-sleeved top, socks and shoes, the man swam back and forth across the fountain’s basin, ignoring police demands to get out of the water.

He was eventually fined €500 and banned from returning to the site.

Following the incident, Italians have called for higher fines and stronger security measures to deter inappropriate tourist behaviour and protect the landmark.

As noted, even a mandatory entry ticket system introduced recently has failed to deter visitors from defying police patrols to immerse themselves in the waters of the 18th-century Baroque monument.

In a separate incident last Saturday, concerns about safety were further heightened after a brawl broke out near the fountain between two rival criminal gangs in Rome. During the clash, people in the area took shelter in nearby bars and cafés, and three people were reportedly taken to hospital.