Pompeii to start capping visitors in an effort to protect city ruins

In a bid to manage surging tourist numbers and safeguard its delicate ruins, the Pompeii Archaeological Park will limit daily visitors to 20,000 starting November 15. The move follows a record-breaking summer season, with over 4 million visitors flocking to the ancient Roman city, buried by Mount Vesuvius in 79 A.D., making it one of the most-visited archaeological sites worldwide.

Gabriel Zuchtriegel, director of the archaeological park, highlighted the need for the daily cap to control visitor flow, explaining, "We are working on a series of projects to lift the human pressure on the site, which could pose risks both for visitors and the heritage (that is) so unique and fragile."

The new ticketing strategy includes personalized entry passes requiring full visitor names, with time slots for peak periods to ensure a more balanced spread of tourists. The initiative is aimed at promoting "slow, sustainable, pleasant, and non-mass tourism," according to Zuchtriegel, aligning with a broader strategy to protect the site while enhancing the visitor experience.

Additionally, Pompeii’s management has launched the "Greater Pompeii" project to reduce crowding by encouraging exploration of nearby ancient sites. Through a free shuttle service, visitors can now explore lesser-known but culturally rich destinations like Stabia, Torre Annunziata, and Boscoreale.

As Zuchtriegel emphasized, these measures aim to create a "widespread" tourism experience, extending visitor engagement beyond Pompeii to the surrounding UNESCO-protected region filled with cultural and historical treasures.