A system for controlling and monitoring the access to a restricted area comprising: - a Gated Area (GA), immediately before the Restricted Area (RA), said Gated Area (GA) being limited by Barriers fitted with Bars of Luminous Elements , which are activated by a Processing Unit ; - the Processing Unit being configured to receive authentication and user category information from a User Authentication Device and, wherein above the Gated Area (GA) - is an Image Capture Device , which is configured to constantly identify the presence of one or more users within the Gated Area (GA), and to send this information to the Processing Unit , - said Processing Unit in turn is configured to calculate the position, speed and direction of movement of the user(s) within the Gated Area (GA), and the gathered information is used to activate a User Category Window by way of the Bars of Luminous Elements located in the Barriers in a colour stipulated for each user category, namely Authorized User (AU) with a specific User Category Window colour, Unauthorized User (UU) with another Specific User Category Window colour and Special Users (SU) with another specific User Category Window colour, and - wherein said User Category Windows follow the movement of their respective user within the Gated Area (GA), based on information received from the Image Capture Device and processed by the Processing Unit ; - a Blocking Device configured to be partially or fully closed, or opened, by the Processing Unit , based on data received by the Image Capture Device and processed by the Processing Unit , and - the access to the Restricted Area (RA) for an Unauthorized User (UU) being prevented by fully or partially closing the Blocking Device , wherein said access is permitted to the Restricted Area (RA) for an Authorized User (AU) and/or a Special User (SU) by maintaining the Blocking Device in the open position. - a Gated Area (GA), immediately before the Restricted Area (RA), said Gated Area (GA) being limited by Barriers fitted with Bars of Luminous Elements , which are activated by a Processing Unit ; - the Processing Unit being configured to receive authentication and user category information from a User Authentication Device and, wherein above the Gated Area (GA) - is an Image Capture Device , which is configured to constantly identify the presence of one or more users within the Gated Area (GA), and to send this information to the Processing Unit , - said Processing Unit in turn is configured to calculate the position, speed and direction of movement of the user(s) within the Gated Area (GA), and the gathered information is used to activate a User Category Window by way of the Bars of Luminous Elements located in the Barriers in a colour stipulated for each user category, namely Authorized User (AU) with a specific User Category Window colour, Unauthorized User (UU) with another Specific User Category Window colour and Special Users (SU) with another specific User Category Window colour, and - wherein said User Category Windows follow the movement of their respective user within the Gated Area (GA), based on information received from the Image Capture Device and processed by the Processing Unit ; - a Blocking Device configured to be partially or fully closed, or opened, by the Processing Unit , based on data received by the Image Capture Device and processed by the Processing Unit , and - the access to the Restricted Area (RA) for an Unauthorized User (UU) being prevented by fully or partially closing the Blocking Device , wherein said access is permitted to the Restricted Area (RA) for an Authorized User (AU) and/or a Special User (SU) by maintaining the Blocking Device in the open position. <EOS>