The Pantheon in Rome has plans to start charging entry fees for visitors. The popular tourist site was one of the last few places with free admission but that is now expected to change.
According to Italian culture minister Dario Franceschini, the change should go into effect next year. It has not yet been announced how much the entry fee will cost, but the intent behind it is to raise enough money to keep the ancient site properly maintained for years to come.
The site was built almost 2,000 years ago and these days hosts over seven million visitors each year. The current state of popularity won’t be sustainable unless they can start handling some of the wear and tear as it occurs. The fees will undoubtedly be reasonable for offering some extra life for the monument.
