The brutal heatwave hitting Europe is forcing some countries to shut down their biggest tourist attractions.
Greece’s Culture Ministry, on Wednesday, ordered the Acropolis to be closed from noon to 5:00 p.m. local time. Visitors that lined up early to see the massively popular cultural attraction were given bottles of cold water and information on heat illnesses by the Red Cross.
Archeological sites were closed again on Thursday.
The heatwave affecting Greece is expected to last through Sunday, with temperatures reaching as high as 109 degrees Fahrenheit. The country, and many others in Europe, have been experiencing much higher than normal temperatures since June, which has led to hundreds of wildfires across the continent. Two firefighters in Italy were killed in Southern Italy’s Basilicata region when battling a blaze.
Greece is battling wildfires as well: One large fire occurred on the outskirts of the northern city of Thessaloniki. There was also a brush fire on the island of Kea, near Athens. Both areas were evacuated.
The closures this week followed a similar action in June. Schools were also closed in that heat warning. Despite the actions by officials, six tourists died that month due to the extreme heat.
Greece and Italy aren’t the only areas suffering. Spain is bracing for temperatures of up to 111 degrees in some parts. This is the longest heatwave on record in Greece.
One area in Europe, though, is seeing some benefits from this heat. Scandinavia has seen an influx of tourists this summer due to its cooler temperatures. Trips to the country are part of a new trend called “coolcationing,” which sees travelers seek out more temperate environments.
May marked the 12th-consecutive month of record-breaking temperatures for the planet, with the global average 1.52C higher than pre-industrial levels.
