Direct object vs pronoun y

Question

Ils vont visiter 'la tour Eiffel' ce matin.
Would it be replaced by a direct object or y
They will visit it = la or they will visit there = y
Ils vont la visiter or ils vont y visiter.

Accepted Answer

Bonjour Esther,
Here "la tour Eiffel" refers to a direct object pronoun - not an adverbial phrase of location:
Je vais visiter la tour Eiffel -> I am going to visit "what" -> la tour Eiffel / The Eiffel tower = Direct object
Therefore, "la tour Eiffel" can only be replaced with a direct object pronoun:
Je vais la visiter = I am going to visit it
The adverbial pronoun "y" refers to a phrase of location (à/dans/sur/sous etc + [location])

Je vais à la tour Eiffel = I am going to the Eiffel tower -> J'y vais
Je mange au restaurant = I eat at the restaurant -> J'y mange
Le chat est dans le jardin = The cat is in the garden -> le chat y est

Also, take a look here: Difference between subjects, objects and pronouns - Grammar Point
I hope this is helpful.
Bonne journée !

Answer

Merci beaucoup Céline