The archaeological site of Ancient Messina will acquire modern visitor service infrastructures by the end of 2025. On the final architectural studies of the project of the construction of a shop and the configuration of public service infrastructures, at the North and South entrances of the archaeological site, as adapted in the new excavation data, the Central Archaeological Council gave a unanimous positive opinion.

It is one of the best preserved, preserved and restored archaeological sites, thanks to the late Petros Themelis, while it is a pole of attraction for thousands of visitors from all over the world. The three complete and restored spaces, the Theater, the Church Hall, the Asklepiion come to life every summer from the multitude of people who flock to watch theatrical performances and musical events, organized by various organizations. Ancient Messina and the unspoiled natural environment in which it is located make it a cultural and environmental monument, of utmost importance for the economic and cultural development not only of Messinia, but also of the wider Peloponnese region.

The Minister of Culture Lina Mendonistated: “The constant upgrading of the services provided to the visitors of our archaeological sites and museums, as well as their universal accessibility, is our political priority. Its results, according to the data recorded from 2022 onwards, are absolutely tangible, as the number of visitors shows a continuous and steady increase. Our strategy includes upgrading the image and operation of Ancient Messina. where our goal is for interventions, configurations and constructions to be as gentle as possible. Not to cause visual, aesthetic or other kind of disturbance in the monuments. To highlight their functional character, to support the readability and overall prominence of the archaeological site. Following the rescue excavation, carried out by the Ephorate of Antiquities of Messinia, in 2023, it was deemed necessary to review the location of the visitor service infrastructure and the design of the entrances. The definitive study harmonizes the zoning with the direction of building debris and the city’s equestrian system. The surface of the building infrastructure is reduced and the solution of the elevator is preferred, as a smoother way of access for the disabled to the refreshment room. The upgrading of the service infrastructure at the archaeological site, in connection with the construction of the New Archaeological Museum, whose studies are being prepared, reflect the care of the Ministry of Culture for the overall promotion of this very important archaeological site, which is in direct connection with the tourism, essentially supporting the wider economy and development of the region. The goal of the integrated sustainable management of the archaeological site of Ancient Messina is a priority, which we jointly serve with the Region of Peloponnese and the Municipality of Messina both in the financing and coordination of the procedures, as well as in the implementation of the launched projects”.

The rescue excavation carried out at the originally proposed construction sites of the buildings yielded building remains that probably belong to part of a residential complex of the late classical-Hellenistic period. The building remains follow the orientation of the buildings of the ancient city based on the Hippodamian urban planning system and are probably part of the residential network of the private houses of the ancient city.

Infrastructures of the Northern Entrance of the archaeological site

Based on the final architectural study, the North Entrance of the archaeological site is formed on an area of ​​2,675 sq.m. From the existing configurations and facilities, the publishing house and the parking area are removed, while the refreshment room located a short distance away on a hill is preserved. After the discovery of antiquities, the new building complex, with an area of ​​217 sq.m., was redesigned in the northern part of the property. According to the architectural plan, the proposed complex includes a shop, a ticket office, a screening room, guest and staff restrooms, a day care area-medical clinic.

The spaces are organized linearly, in two parallel zones, achieving the minimum possible occupation of the available space and at the same time opening up the movement of incoming visitors towards the interior of the archaeological site. The descent and parking of cars in the wider area of ​​the entrance is abolished, with private cars now parked in the designated parking area of ​​the Archaeological Museum area. In the immediate vicinity of the Entrance area, there are three parking spaces for disabled vehicles. For the descent of the visitors from the level of the asphalt to the configured entrance area, the construction of steps of ramps and steps in the form of a linear low amphitheater is planned. In the area, new additional planting of trees is planned to shade the area, while the existing trees are preserved in their entirety. The publishing house is centrally located, at the end of the main traffic of visitors. The waiting of the visitors, in front of the publishing house, takes place in a relatively wide semi-outdoor space that also functions as a transitional space to which the screening room and the shop open.

The shop is placed last in the linear array of spaces and has a view towards the archaeological site. The parallel zone of the sanitary areas, the daycare-clinic area and the warehouse is treated as a cave. That is, it is covered by the surrounding soil. The closed spaces of the sales and screening room are covered with planted roofs, while the semi-outdoor spaces with a pergola that ensures the necessary shading of the buildings. For the access of the disabled to the refreshment stand, the installation of an elevator at the border of the configuration area is planned, following the movement of visitors, from the shop to the archaeological site. The access of the disabled to the archaeological site is via a ramp, on the slope to the north-east of the shop. It is also proposed to build a new fence to expand the reception area, as well as to install photovoltaic panels for the energy autonomy of the auxiliary building infrastructure.

Infrastructure of the South Entrance of the archaeological site

The study for the infrastructure of the South Entrance concerns the construction of a building with a surface area of ​​98 sq.m. The building is underground with a central semi-open-air corridor that serves both sides of the outpost, public and employee WCs and the auxiliary general use area. The semi-outdoor corridor leads to an outdoor staircase towards the archaeological site.