### Pompeii to Limit Daily Visitors to 20,000 Starting November 15

Starting November 15, the ancient archaeological site of Pompeii will cap the number of daily visitors at 20,000 due to a surge in tourist numbers. This decision follows a record-setting 36,000 tourists who visited the site on the first Sunday of October when entry was free, according to local reports.

Pompeii, renowned for being one of the best-preserved Roman cities, saw nearly four million visitors in 2023, marking a significant increase of one-third compared to the previous year. Visitor numbers have consistently risen, surpassing even pre-pandemic levels.

October 2024 alone witnessed over 480,000 visitors, averaging about 15,500 daily. May was the busiest month this year, with around 517,000 visitors, translating to roughly 16,700 per day. Despite these figures, the 20,000 cap will likely result in tourists being turned away only occasionally. A spokesperson for Pompeii noted that the threshold has only been surpassed on free entry days, predominantly the first Sunday of the month, along with three or four other fee-paying days.

Gabriel Zuchtriegel, the director of Pompeii, emphasized the need to mitigate the impact of human traffic on the site, highlighting both conservation and safety concerns. The city, buried by the catastrophic eruption of Mount Vesuvius in AD 79, remains largely intact and continues to intrigue archaeologists as around a third of the site is yet to be excavated.

Entry tickets to Pompeii are priced at €18 (£14.90; $19.30) and this fee will apply mainly to daytrippers on weekends and public holidays from April to July. The site's importance in offering a comprehensive glimpse into daily Roman life makes it a focal point for both historical study and tourism.