Pompeii Archaeological Park Is Capping Its Visitor Numbers

Eerily fascinating and considered one of Italy’s most visited cultural landmarks, this UNESCO World Heritage Site preserves the ancient city that was blanketed in ash after Mount Vesuvius erupted in 79 AD, leaving remnants of many of its 10,000 residents. Now attracting around four million visitors over the summer, it’s seen as a unique and fragile site whose managers are introducing a daily cap of 20,000 visitors, timed entry, and personalised tickets to manage crowd flow and reduce human pressure that could pose risks to both visitors and the ruins. The aim is to create slow, sustainable, pleasant, non-mass tourism, while encouraging people to explore the wider territory full of cultural jewels around the UNESCO site, including other ancient locations grouped under ‘Greater Pompeii’. - Liv Kelly