25/03/24, 10:05 Seville tourists to be charged tax to enter famous Plaza de España | The Independent

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Seville to introduce entry fee for tourists visiting

landmark square
City breakers will have to pay up to protect the Plaza de España

Natalie Wilson · Thursday 29 February 2024 10:14 GMT · Comments

The neo-Moorish square was once the set of Star Wars (Getty Images)

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https://www.independent.co.uk/travel/news-and-advice/seville-tourist-entry-fee-plaza-de-espana-b2504556.html 1/8
25/03/24, 10:05 Seville tourists to be charged tax to enter famous Plaza de España | The Independent

Holidaymakers visiting Seville will soon be charged to enter the historic Plaza de
España under new plans to tackle overtourism in the southern Spanish city.

The popular neo-Moorish square, once the set of Star Wars’ 1999 Phantom Menace
film, is at risk of irreversible damage to its complex of tiled floors, tower facades
and bridges if uncontrolled mass tourism continues.

Mayor of Seville, José Luis Sanz wrote on X/Twitter: “We are planning to close the
Plaza de España and charge tourists to finance its conservation and guarantee its
safety. In addition, we will create a craft workshop school.

“Of course, the monument will continue to be freely accessible and free for all
Sevillians.”

https://www.independent.co.uk/travel/news-and-advice/seville-tourist-entry-fee-plaza-de-espana-b2504556.html 2/8
25/03/24, 10:05 Seville tourists to be charged tax to enter famous Plaza de España | The Independent

Horse-drawn carriages on the fragile square (Getty Images)

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Over three million visitors flood Seville a year, with a daily footfall in the
thousands and horse-drawn carriages frequently using the public space.

Although Sevillian citizens will be exempt from the charge, the plans to introduce
an entry fee were met with a mixed response by X users.

https://www.independent.co.uk/travel/news-and-advice/seville-tourist-entry-fee-plaza-de-espana-b2504556.html 3/8
25/03/24, 10:05 Seville tourists to be charged tax to enter famous Plaza de España | The Independent

“They have already turned our cities into a theme park to the point that to walk
through our squares, we are going to have to form a line, get a ticket and wait in
line,” wrote one user.

Others were more supportive of the proposed payment: “I approve the measure to
prevent this type of savagery from occurring in our PUBLIC heritage. It is a
unique enclave in all of Spain, if it is not protected from barbarians we will
continue to lose heritage quality, and Seville CANNOT allow that.”

Most of the details including the exact charge and ticketing system are currently
unclear.

The attempt to tackle overtourism follows the launch of a $10 tourist tax in
Bali this month and a €5 charge to enter the centre of Venice from April 2024
using a ticketing system to limit the numbers pouring into the canalside city.
More about: Seville Overtourism Tourist Tax

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