Skopje, 17 April 2024 (MIA) - To mark International Day of Monuments and Sites, admissions to all national institutions in the field of cultural heritage protection will be free on April 18 and citizens will have an opportunity to visit archeological sites and monuments across the country, the Ministry of Culture said in a press release Wednesday.

According to the Ministry of Culture, admission will be free for: the institutes and museums in Bitola, Shtip, Ohrid, Prilep and Strumica, Stobi and Heraclea archaeological sites, Toshe Proeski Memorial House, Archeological Museum, National Gallery and all its institutions, Museum of Contemporary Art, Museum of the Macedonian Struggle for Independence, Museum of History - Krushevo, Museum of Albanian Alphabet, Art Gallery Tetovo, National Institution „Dr. Nikola Nezlobinski“- Struga, Museum of Western Macedonia in the War of National Liberation - Kichevo, Tetovo Museum, Natural History Museum, Museum of North Macedonia, and museums in Kumanovo and Gevgelija.

In 1982, the International Council for Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) declared April 18 - World Heritage Day, and every year ICOMOS sets a theme with activities organized by national and international scientific committees.

This year's theme for International Day of Monuments and Sites is "Disasters & Conflicts through the Lens of the Venice Charter."

At the General Assembly 2023 in Sydney, the theme of “Disaster and Conflict Resilient Heritage - Preparedness, Response and Recovery” was chosen as the theme for the Triennial Scientific Plan 2024-2027. Therefore, ICOMOC Macedonia is examining the 1963 Skopje earthquake and its effect on cultural heritage through the lens of this year's theme.ssh/ad/

Photo: Ministry of Culture