Egypt’s Antiquities Minister Khaled al-Anany has decided to open all archaeological sites registered on the World Heritage List for free to Egyptian students on Wednesday, as part of the ministry’s celebration of World Heritage Day.
In Egypt, six cultural sites–Abu Mena, Ancient Thebes with its necropolis, historic Cairo, Memphis and its necropolis including the pyramid fields from Giza to Dashur, Nubian monuments from Abu Simbel to Philae, and the area centering on Saint Catherine’s Monastery–as well as one natural site–Wadi el-Hitan (Valley of the Whales)–are listed on the World Heritage List, which includes 890 sites worldwide considered to have “outstanding universal value.”
Statement from the Antiquities Ministry said Sunday that Anany also decided to open all the archaeological museums to visit that day for free of charge for Egyptians and Arab residents.
UNESCO’s World Heritage Day, first launched in 1983, aims to raise public awareness about the diversity of cultural heritage and draw attention to ancient sites around the world.
The idea is to give exposure to international efforts to preserve these sites and increase awareness of the importance of supporting such efforts.
