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For the fourth consecutive year, the archaeological sites and museums in Greece will open their doors to the public on the night of 10 August to enjoy a romantic August full moon. They will open their doors free of charge between 9 p.m. and midnight for all residents and visitors to the country who want to see the Moon in a setting similar to an ancient theatre.

In many of the sites, such as the archaeological complex at Delphi, as well as the museums and archaeological sites of the Cycladic Islands and North-eastern Aegean sea, the artistic events will be dedicated to the works of the famous Greek poet and Nobel laureate in literature Odysseas Elitis.

At 9.19 p.m., when the luminous moon is expected to fill the sky, the organisers will set up an imaginary connection between the Cycladic Islands, Ikaria, Lesbos, Samos, Chios, Psara and Delphi, where an excerpt from the poem "To Axion Esti" ("It is Worthy") will sound in the poet’s voice.

"The tradition of opening the archaeological sites during the August full moon dates back to 2010. This has increased the number of visitors because a fair number of people go to the sites for the first time and become familiar with them thanks to the performances dedicated to the full moon," said a representative of the Greek Ministry of Culture for GRReporter.

In the beginning, the main, most famous sites and museums were included in the events organised, but every year the list is growing, and the interest of the audience is becoming stronger and stronger. One of the first museums to announce its programme was the Acropolis Museum in Athens, where the evening performance will begin at 9:30 p.m. with the orchestra of military aviation.

The musicians will perform excerpts from classic operas, film music and popular Greek songs. Apart from that, the museum will be open all day from 08:00 a.m. to midnight, as the entrance will be free after 9 p.m. Visitors will have the opportunity to see the exhibition and enjoy the panoramic view of the Acropolis in the moonlight.

Some of the sites that will be open to the public during the August full moon night are:

The "Archaeological Collection" Museum on the island of Amorgos

The castle on the island of Andiparos

The Archaeological Museum of Delphi

The courtyard of the Archaeological Museum of Ikaria

The Archaeological Museum of Ios Island

The Archaeological Museum of Kea Island

The Archaeological Museum of Kimolos Island
The “Archaeological Collection" Museum on the island of Kythnos
In Plomari of Lesbos Island
In Ayiassos of Lesbos Island

The archaeological site of "Baths" on the island of Lesbos
The archaeological site of "Poliochni" on the island of Limnos
The Archaeological Museum of Milos
The Archaeological Museum of Mykonos

The archaeological site of "Irion" in Naxos
The Archaeological Museum of Paros
The Archaeological Museum in Vathy on Samos Island
The Archaeological Museum in Pythagorio of Samos Island
The archaeological site of "Ireo" on Samos

The Archaeological Complex of "Akrotiri" on the island of Santorini
The Archaeological Museum of Sifnos
The Archaeological Museum of Syros Island
The archaeological site of "Kionia" on the island of Tinos
The archaeological site of "Emporio" on Chios Island

The rest of the list will be officially announced on Friday.

At the same time, the trade union of the security guards of the archaeological sites announced that this year they will not participate in events outside their working hours. The reason is that the issue has not yet been resolved as regards their compensation for the hours they work during the event, with the result that over the years they have worked for free.

According to the security guards’ announcement, the August full moon is the first performance in overtime working hours in which they refuse to participate. "Therefore, the decision of the Central Archaeological Board about the events during the full moon was taken without the consent of the guards," they pointed out in conclusion.