Greece to allow pets at over 120 archeological sites

• Greece’s Ministry of Culture has announced that pets will soon be allowed into more than 120 archeological sites across the country, although they will remain banned at Athens’ Acropolis and other major, crowded sites.
• Current regulations only allow sight dogs at the country’s historic sites.
• Culture Minister Lina Mendoni said in a press release, the move is “a first, but important step towards harmonizing the framework for access to monuments and archaeological sites.”

Pets will soon be allowed into more than 120 archeological sites across Greece, the country’s culture ministry announced on Thursday, although not at the Acropolis or some other top tourist draws.

The move, approved unanimously by the country’s powerful Central Archaeological Council, will relax existing rules that only allow guide dogs into archaeological sites for visitors with disabilities. The ministry did not say when the new rules would come into effect.

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Culture Minister Lina Mendoni said in a ministry press release, “The decision is a first, but important, step towards harmonizing the framework for access to monuments and archaeological sites with the standards of other European countries, where entry rules for pets are in place.” are already in force.”

Greece will soon allow pets at more than 120 archeological sites throughout the history-rich Balkan country. (AP Photo/Petros Gianakouris, File)

The council approves the entry of pets, provided they are kept on a leash no longer than 3 feet, or carried by their owners in a pouch or in the case of a pet carrier. The ministry said the owners will have to show the health certificate of their pet and carry the necessary equipment to collect their animal’s faeces to be allowed entry. Big dogs have to be silenced.

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But some of the most popular archeological sites, such as the Acropolis of Athens, Knossos in Crete, ancient Olympia or Delphi, which tend to be very crowded, will still be pet-free, as will ancient theaters, temples, tombs and monuments. mosaic floor.

The ministry said that cages will be installed at the entrances of more than 110 other archaeological sites, so that owners can park their pets during their visit.

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Tourism is one of Greece’s major industries, generating billions of euros in revenue each year.