The ancient city of Pompeiiwhich was preserved under layers of ash and pumice after the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 CE, introduced a new cap for daily visitors.

In order to avoid overpopulation and protect the ruins of the city, the Pompeii Archaeological Park announcement that it will not allow more than 20,000 tourists to enter the site each day. From November 15, visitors will need a personalized ticket bearing their full name and linked to a specific time slot.

For many years, Pompeii has captivated travelers en route to Italy hoping to gain a glimpse of ancient Roman life. But last summer, the site attracted a record four million tourists, an increase of 33.6% from the previous year, according to Reuters“Alvise Armellini. One summer day, no less than 36,000 visitors came to visit the ancient site.

Most travelers won’t have to worry too much about the new crowd restrictions. A park spokesperson told Reuters that the site reached 20,000 visitors mainly during the free entry days, which take place on the first Sunday of each month. On normal days, the number of visitors only reached 20,000 three or four times.

An average of 16,700 people visited the park each day in May, which was the busiest month of 2024, according to International United PressIt’s Mike Heuer. Pompeii welcomed a total of 517,000 tourists that month.

“We are working on a series of projects aimed at reducing human pressure on the site, which could pose risks both for visitors and for the heritage (which is) so unique and so fragile,” explains Gabriel Zuchtriegel, director of the archaeological park , in a translated translation. declaration, according to the Associated Press.

In recent years, mischievous tourists have made headlines. damaging Or vandalize ancient Italian sites on several occasions. During the summer, two unrelated tourists were repeatedly caught carving initials in excavated houses in Pompeii.

The daily cap will prevent tourist numbers in Pompeii from increasing, making it easier for staff and security to manage crowds. Park officials also hope visitors will be excited about nearby sites connected to the park. Free bus services are now available to transport tourists between these sites.

“Flow management and security measures as well as the personalization of visits are part of this strategy,” Zuchtriegel said in the press release, according to the AP. “We are aiming for slow, sustainable, pleasant and non-mass tourism, and above all widespread tourism throughout the territory around the border. UNESCO sitewhich is full of cultural gems to discover.

The introduction of the new entry limit follows similar changes at other Italian historic sites facing overcrowding. In the spring, the city of Venice began the trial of a controversial project entrance fees for day trippers in hopes of reducing the numbers. This summer, Rome officials announced plans to charge admission fees to Trevi Fountain.