All archaeological sites in the city of Athens are closed to public between 12 o’ clock noon and 5 o’ clock in the afternoon on Thursday, July 18, 2024, due to extremely high temperatures, the Culture Ministry announced.
All archaeological sites will be closed from 12 noon to 5 pm, due to forecast high temperatures, says a statement from the Ministry of Culture.
In Athens and Attica temperatures range up to 39-40 degrees Celsius as another prolonged heatwave hits the country.
It should be noted that the peak of the phenomenon is expected to last at least until Friday, July 19. According to latest information from the National Meteorological Service until Sunday, July 21, though.
The Culture Ministry had closed the Acropolis during the heat peak hours of the day also yesterday, Wednesday.
However, even if the weather forecast has been clear since days, the Ministry announces its closure decisions at the last minute with the effect that tourists reportedly queued outside the closed Acropolis not knowing what to do, as many of them had electronic tickets.
Α child waiting in the queue with its family fainted and was transferred with an ambulance to a nearby hospital, TV media reported.
Just three days ago, a thermo camera on a drone recorded almost 50 degrees Celsius on the Acropolis at 8 o’ clock on Monday morning as tourists were waiting to climb on the Holy Rock, media reported.
PS I wonder why Culture Minister Lina Mendoni did not think to install also huge sunshades and canopies when she covered the paths of the Acropolis with cement in 2020.
