All archaeological landmarks like the Acropolis in Athens are closed
A heatwave that has been going on since early July reached a new peak in many parts of Greece on Thursday. The temperature is expected to exceed 43 degrees in some places, so all archaeological sites between noon and 5:00 p.m. local time will be closed, the Culture Ministry announced. Affected sites include the landmarks of Athens, the Acropolis, and the ancient site of Olympia.
The Civil Protection warned of great fire danger in most regions of Central and Southern Greece. The smallest fire could be turned into a large fire due to the drought and the strong winds currently blowing around the Aegean Sea, a spokesperson for the Fire Department said on Greek television.
The situation is somewhat better on Crete and the Aegean islands. The sea breeze provides some cooling to temperatures around 35 degrees, according to the Meteorological Office.
Because of the ongoing heat wave, many symbols of ancient Greece, like the Acropolis in Athen, are closing during the hottest hours of the day. This decision, made by the Culture Ministry, is all-encompassing, affecting places like Olympia as well. The extreme heat conditions have also increased the risk of wildfires across Greece, especially in the Central and Southern regions.
