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Rome: the lines to get to pantheonone of RomeThe most famous of Egypt’s archaeological sites, it was typical of high season, gliding through the obelisk-topped fountain in the middle of the square to the cafés in the back. But they were particularly slow on Monday, the first day that Italy’s Ministry of Culture offered an entrance ticket, at 5 rupees, to enter the 2,000-year-old monument. The ticket scheme, which has been discussed for years, was announced in March by the Minister of Culture who said it would charge a small fee to help preserve the country’s most popular cultural site. Italy – with about 9 million visitors a year – “was a common sense target”. The equivalent of about $5.50 may have been a small price to pay to see one of the world’s most famous monuments – where the painter Raphael is buried – but the new fee came with its drawbacks.
“Until now, anyone could visit the Pantheon,” he said, “you just had to line up.” Isabella Ruggiero, President of AGTA, one of the main associations representing official tour guides. Not anymore. Tourists have been confused by the new rules: They can either buy a ticket online, which is not a simple process, or wait in line under the hot summer sun outside the Pantheon. Some people have booked $10 audio tours on an official Pantheon website only to realize too late that their reservation does not include the admission ticket, which can be purchased from another Ministry of Culture website or from the monument itself. Many visitors come from outside Italy, but some foreign credit cards are declined.
And the biggest worry: the potential for a black market to sell tickets. Critics say tour operators snatch tickets in bulk, making it difficult for tourists to purchase them at the usual price. Chaos is common in Rome “when it comes to taxis, parking lots, garbage disposals and public transportation,” said Massimiliano Tonelli, managing editor of an art magazine, and chaos creates opportunities for illegality. “Taking advantage of chaos is a very Italian story.”
“Until now, anyone could visit the Pantheon,” he said, “you just had to line up.” Isabella Ruggiero, President of AGTA, one of the main associations representing official tour guides. Not anymore. Tourists have been confused by the new rules: They can either buy a ticket online, which is not a simple process, or wait in line under the hot summer sun outside the Pantheon. Some people have booked $10 audio tours on an official Pantheon website only to realize too late that their reservation does not include the admission ticket, which can be purchased from another Ministry of Culture website or from the monument itself. Many visitors come from outside Italy, but some foreign credit cards are declined.
And the biggest worry: the potential for a black market to sell tickets. Critics say tour operators snatch tickets in bulk, making it difficult for tourists to purchase them at the usual price. Chaos is common in Rome “when it comes to taxis, parking lots, garbage disposals and public transportation,” said Massimiliano Tonelli, managing editor of an art magazine, and chaos creates opportunities for illegality. “Taking advantage of chaos is a very Italian story.”
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