MPs discuss use of cultural heritage sites for civil weddings

Civil wedding ceremonies hosted at archaeological sites in Cyprus were the focus of discussions by lawmakers during the House transport committee meeting on Thursday.

Transport Minister Yiannis Karousos posed the question, if civil marriages can be held at the British Museum and the Ashmolean Museum in Oxford, why can’t civil marriages be conducted at certain archaeological sites such as castles in Cyprus, the Cyprus News Agency (CNA) reported.

Under the new bill being discussed in parliament, restrictions and regulations will be implemented at the island’s castles and museums with low traffic in Cyprus to include setting a maximum capacity of 30 people and a charge of between €1,000 and €1,500 for use of the monument, depending on the site chosen for use.

These changes will affect the castles of Larnaca, Limassol and Paphos as well as some museums with very low traffic such as that of Lefkara, Yeroskipou and some others.

“In this way we will promote these ancient monuments, especially the castles and on the other hand we will promote our history, cultural heritage abroad and we will strengthen the sector of civil marriages and municipalities,” said Karousos in his statements after the meeting.

Karousos said that the committee also discussed the issue of extending opening hours to seven days a week with free entrance for some categories of visitors to all museums and archaeological sites under the antiquities department, something, he noted that is successfully implemented abroad.

The transport minister added that retirees and families with three children could be included among the beneficiaries for free entry to archaeological sites.