Anyone who's wandered through Rome will have undoubtedly snapped a selfie beside the iconic Trevi Fountain; yet, whilst this experience was previously free, tourists must now fork out €2 (£1.75) to approach the famous landmark.

Italian authorities hope this fee will fund upkeep of the fountain whilst tackling the "chaos" that frequently engulfs this beloved attraction.

This alteration, which came into force earlier this month, was introduced alongside a fresh five euro (£4.32) visitor charge for certain municipal museums.

• Spain holiday warning for Brits after major clampdown this week


• Man City demolish Newcastle to set up Arsenal showdown in Carabao Cup - 5 talking points

Officials estimate these price hikes will generate an additional €6.5million (£5.6million) annually, with proceeds earmarked for ongoing preservation of the capital's countless historic treasures.

The choice to impose charges for accessing this ancient monument has certainly sparked debate.

American visitor Alma Peterson expressed her disapproval to The Guardian, stating: "It's not right to charge people - this is history, it should be free."

Meanwhile, Moroccan tourist Ilhan Musbah offered a contrasting view to ITV: "Before, there were problems accessing the fountain. There were a lot of people. Now, it's very easy.

"You can take photos, you feel good, you're comfortable, and on top of that, two euros is not much."

This development builds upon a year-long trial that regulated and restricted visitor numbers permitted at the fountain's edge through designated queuing systems and controlled entry and exit routes.

Alessandro Onorato, Rome's tourism chief, has stood by the decision to impose a fee on fountain visitors, remarking: "I think tourists were shocked by the fact that the city of Rome is only asking for two euros for a site of this level.

"I believe that if the Trevi Fountain were in New York, they would have charged at least $100 (£73)."