**Pompeii will limit daily visitors to 20,000 from mid-November following a record influx, highlighting the balance between preservation and access.**
**Pompeii Installs Daily Visitor Limit Amid Surge in Tourism**
**Pompeii Installs Daily Visitor Limit Amid Surge in Tourism**
**New Measures to Preserve Ancient Site While Managing Crowds**
The renowned archaeological site of Pompeii has announced it will cap the number of visitors to 20,000 each day starting November 15, as tourist attendance has surged dramatically. Recent reports indicated a peak of 36,000 visitors on a free entry day in early October, prompting park officials to implement this restriction.
Pompeii, famously buried under volcanic ash from the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in AD79, is one of the most intact Roman sites available for public viewing, attracting a staggering four million visitors in 2023, a significant increase from the previous year. After years of fluctuating visitor numbers due to the pandemic, 2023 has seen attendance exceeding pre-COVID statistics, with October alone drawing over 480,000 visitors. This results in an average of approximately 15,500 daily visitors.
According to park management, the new visitor cap is expected to only result in a handful of tourists being turned away, as the site has generally exceeded the limit mainly during special promotions. Gabriel Zuchtriegel, the director of the park, emphasized the necessity of managing human impact for the sake of the site's conservation and overall safety.
Pompeii remains an invaluable resource for historians and archaeologists, offering insights into daily life during the Roman era. Ongoing excavations continue to reveal remarkable artifacts, including exquisite frescoes depicting Greek mythology discovered in a newly unearthed dining hall. With entrance fees starting at €18, Pompeii continues to be a popular destination for culture and history enthusiasts.
Pompeii, famously buried under volcanic ash from the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in AD79, is one of the most intact Roman sites available for public viewing, attracting a staggering four million visitors in 2023, a significant increase from the previous year. After years of fluctuating visitor numbers due to the pandemic, 2023 has seen attendance exceeding pre-COVID statistics, with October alone drawing over 480,000 visitors. This results in an average of approximately 15,500 daily visitors.
According to park management, the new visitor cap is expected to only result in a handful of tourists being turned away, as the site has generally exceeded the limit mainly during special promotions. Gabriel Zuchtriegel, the director of the park, emphasized the necessity of managing human impact for the sake of the site's conservation and overall safety.
Pompeii remains an invaluable resource for historians and archaeologists, offering insights into daily life during the Roman era. Ongoing excavations continue to reveal remarkable artifacts, including exquisite frescoes depicting Greek mythology discovered in a newly unearthed dining hall. With entrance fees starting at €18, Pompeii continues to be a popular destination for culture and history enthusiasts.
