A city whose historical origins stretch back to the Greek settlement hundreds of years before Christ.

To justify the entrance fee, visitors will receive popcorn, a doughnut, cotton candy, and a drink.

Attract tourists in winter
The entrance fee was introduced in November and will run throughout Christmas, until January 6. It is a popular season for tourists, as the entire city is illuminated by lights.

Mayor Domenico Vitto tells The Telegraph that Polignano a Mare must attract tourists even when it's not summer.

He says that visitors to the city do not have to buy a ticket to enter the historical heritage, and that the initiative has meant that Polignano a Mare has received many more visitors.

But not everyone is happy with the decision.

No adventure park
Critics argue that the new way of welcoming visitors contributes to the commercialization of public spaces, which should be open to everyone.

People living in the area and businesses around them are concerned that it is a step towards popular attractions becoming "Disney parks.".

”"Turning the city into a show, as if it were an adventure park, is not a good idea. The city should be part of the world's cultural heritage," the local business association Confesercenti Terra di Bari wrote in a statement.

Source: aftonbladet.se