Rome

ROME — The Vatican said more than 33 million pilgrims traveled to Rome during the 2025 Jubilee year as the final faithful crossed the Holy Door of St. Peter’s Basilica, capping a yearlong Catholic celebration that doubled as a stress test for the Eternal City and a defining early chapter for Pope Leo XIV. Pope Leo is due to close the basilica’s ornate bronze doors in a ceremony, just over 12 months after they were opened by his predecessor, Pope Francis, who died in April. The rite formally concludes a Jubilee marked by…

Rome to charge €2 for close access to Trevi Fountain starting Feb. 1 ROME — Tourists hoping to step down to the edge of Rome’s Trevi Fountain will have to pay €2 from Feb. 1 under a new policy to manage crowds and raise funds from one of Italy’s most visited landmarks, the city’s mayor said. Mayor Roberto Gualtieri announced the change and said the payment system is projected to bring in about €6.5 million a year. He argued the small fee will help tame congestion around the monument without shutting off views or penalizing…