Tourist slapped with lifetime ban over swim in Rome’s Trevi Fountain

These tourists definitely made a splash.

On Sunday, three visitors from New Zealand on vacation in Rome scuffled with police after attempting to jump into the capital’s famed Trevi Fountain.

Two gave up on their illegal venture at the world-renowned Baroque landmark after being confronted, but one determined 30-year-old man was intent — and intoxicated.

The committed Kiwi managed to wrestle free from the authorities — after which he bypassed the official viewing area, crawled over the marble statues and jumped back into the fountain, CNN reported.

And there won’t be a third time, most likely. A police spokesperson said the stubborn swimmer had been slapped with a fine of 500 euros (around $524) — and banned from visiting the popular tourist destination for life.

“Alcohol was definitely involved,” they said.

Getting into the world-famous fountain may be a bold move, but it’s not an original one.

According to the Roman police, nearly a dozen tourists are fined for dipping everything from their toes to water bottles into the fountain each year.

The iconic tourist attraction was completed in 1762 and covers one side of the Palazzo Poli in central Rome — with its statues of Tritons guiding the shell chariot of the god Oceanus, illustrating the theme of the taming of the waters.

Each year, around 21 million tourists visit Rome, with many making a pit stop to the Trevi Fountain.

In 2024, it underwent a $330,000 cleaning, during which tourists were redirected to toss their coins and wishes into a small, sad temporary pool next to the fountain.

The restorations were part of a plan to charge the site’s roughly four million annual visitors a fee to get up close and personal with the bucket list location.

The city has since implemented a system to limit only 400 tourists to be up front at one time from 9am until 9pm daily.

Officials hope these rules help deter unruly behavior and overcrowding at the sensitive site.

People travel from all around the world to toss a coin in the iconic fountain. Legend has it that anyone who uses their right hand to launch a coin over their left shoulder will return to Rome at some point in their life.

Collectively, visitors spent about 1.4 million euros ($1.5 million US) in 2022 on their wishes to return, Reuters reported.

The money is collected for Caritas, a not-for-profit organization run by the Catholic Church, which uses the money to fund a food bank, soup kitchen and welfare projects in Rome.