Every year, the Greek Ministry of Culture organizes a program to open monuments and museums after dark on the occasion of the August full moon. This year, the program took place on August 28th, with many sites opening from around 7:30 PM to midnight.
Among the 126 participating sites, there are many famous Greek monuments.
In Delphi, one of the most important religious centers of the ancient Greek world , visitors can enter the terraces of the Temple of Apollo free of charge from around 7:30 or 8:00 PM until midnight. This was where the ancient Greeks went to seek divine guidance on important matters such as war, colonization, and marriage.
At ancient Olympia, the site associated with the origins of the Olympic Games, the entire archaeological complex and museum will be open free of charge from 8 p.m. to midnight. Archaeologists also organize guided tours.
In Mystras, a medieval Byzantine city near Sparta, the evening program will include a musical event.
In Athens, the Acropolis Museum is open from 9 pm to midnight. Regular admission is still available for the permanent collections, while the temporary exhibition Inspiration: Ancient Greek Art in Italy is free.
The exhibition features 38 works of art in ceramics, bronze, and marble from museums across Italy, including many items being removed from their original collections for the first time. A guided tour of the exhibition, led by a museum archaeologist, takes place at 6 pm on August 28th and requires prior registration.
Besides well-known destinations, the program also opens many historical sites that are less known to international tourists.
At Epirus, the Nekromanteion in Acheron is an ancient sanctuary associated with the ancient Greek belief in the afterlife. The ancients believed it was one of the places where one could access the world of the dead. The site is open free of charge from around 7:30 or 8:00 PM until midnight.
Also located in Epirus, Dodona is considered one of the oldest prophetic centers in Greece, even predating Delphi. The sanctuary was built around a sacred oak tree, where the ancients believed Zeus delivered prophecies. The site is open free of charge from 8 PM to midnight.
On the island of Crete, Malia, the palace complex of the Minoan civilization on the northern coast, will host a musical program featuring Greek singer Manolis Mitsias and a choir.
The Gortyna archaeological site, also on the island of Crete, will be open to the public free of charge and will host a musical program. It houses the Gortyn Code , one of the most important ancient Greek legal texts, inscribed on stone in the 5th century BC.
In western Greece, Nafpaktos Castle sits atop a hillside overlooking the Gulf of Corinth. According to travel expert Yahya Dawood, this location offers a unique perspective when moonlight reflects on the gulf and illuminates the historic structure.
For music lovers, a notable program takes place at the temple of Ammon Zeus in Kallithea, on the Kassandra peninsula, with performances of the operas Orpheus and Eurydice.
Opening historical sites at night during the August full moon has become an annual cultural event in Greece, combining access to heritage with artistic performances. It also provides an opportunity for the public to experience familiar historical landmarks in a different setting than during typical visiting hours.
Source: https://baovanhoa.vn/the-gioi/hy-lap-mo-cua-mien-phi-126-di-tich-trong-dem-trang-tron-thang-8-256327.html
