Full moon, empty Acropolis; Pay dispute in Greece kills site's annual nocturnal opening

Published November 17, 2014

ATHENS, Greece (AP) — For the first time in years, the Acropolis in Athens will be closed on the night of the August full moon next week, due to a pay dispute.

The culture and tourism ministry says the citadel is not among the 92 sites and museums to open by moonlight Aug. 24 — the one night a year the public can enter monuments after sundown.

A ministry statement Friday said guards demanded more than their legal pay to work at night. Guards claim they were asked to work for free, and then offered less than last year.

The government has imposed harsh austerity measures to fight a debt crisis.

The Acropolis is the country's most popular ancient site, drawing over a million visitors a year. Striking guards have closed it several times this year — during daytime.

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