You'll have to pay a pretty penny to explore this Italian village's charms
The Italian village of Polignano a Mare is charging visitors five Euros to explore the ruins.
The Italian village of Polignano a Mare, which has previously been open to the public who enjoy exploring its whitewashed houses and historical churches, has recently started charging visitors to see the area.
In a bid to control mass tourism, turnstiles have been put in place in front of the gates and visitors have to pay five Euros to enter.
The turnstiles have drawn criticism from the local business association, who believe charging visitors is "detrimental".
Polignano a Mare, Polignano, Puglia, l'Italia https://t.co/cfOgueovvP pic.twitter.com/IDh0gLwjbQ
— Polignano a Mare (@Polignanoamare) December 7, 2018
However, the turnstiles are designed to direct traffic towards the historical sight instead of away from it. Authorities believe the town needs to find a way to make money from the tourists who visit the area during the less popular winter season.
The town's Christmas light display will happen in the middle of the Polignano a Mare's three-week pay-to-visit period and is set to give the town's economy a boost.
The town's move to start charging visitors raises an important question about whether people should be charged to visit heritage sites at all.
If a public space holds the history of a people, why should it be commodified?
Moral questions aside, tourism is one of the best ways to boost a country's economy. Perhaps those who are determined to visit Polignano a Mare should suck it up and pay the R80.