The excavation investigation began in April 2016 and was completed in 2022, bringing to light part of the urban planning fabric of the city of Thessaloniki from late antiquity and early Byzantine times to the post-Byzantine and modern era.
In the final stretch comes the highlighting of the antiquities at the stations Saint Sofia’s and Venizelou of Thessaloniki Metroas stated in a press release by the Ministry of Culture and Sports.
Specifically, after the positive opinion of the Central Archaeological Council for the studies of protection, fixing, surface maintenance, restoration and highlighting of the antiquities, at the “Agia Sophia” Station, as well as for the corresponding electromechanical and architectural studies for the formation of the interior of the shell , which surrounds the antiquities, at the “Venizelos” Station, the Minister of Culture and Sports Lina Mendoni stated that “the cycle of studies for the protection and highlighting of the antiquities that were uncovered during the construction of the two specific stations of the Thessaloniki Metro is being completed. The Ministry of Culture and Sports systematically and within the schedule, proceeds to complete an extremely complex archaeological project, in the urban fabric of Thessaloniki, the like of which has not been implemented until now. In this way, the Ministry achieves not only the rescue of the evidence of the historical timelessness of the city, but also highlights the antiquities, with modern and in many cases original solutions, creating archaeological sites, within the Metropolitan Railway of Thessaloniki. Thanks to the painstaking and intensive efforts of the working group, under the coordination of the competent departments of the Ministry of Culture and Sports, we show in practice our respect for the past of Thessaloniki and prove that with our specific choices, with knowledge and dedication, Ancient and Metro can coexist”.
The Northern entrance of the Agia Sofia Station of the Metropolitan Railway of Thessaloniki, with a total area of 820 sq.m., is located south of Makedonomahon square and north of the Station, between Agia Sofia and Platonos streets. The excavation investigation began in April 2016, continued in 2019 and was completed in 2022, bringing to light part of the urban fabric of the city of Thessaloniki, which is structured north of the decumanus maximus, the Byzantine avenue (today’s Egnatia street), in a stack of buildings phases, from late antiquity and proto-Byzantine times to the post-Byzantine and newer eras. A section of a large sigmoid marble-paved square, dating from the 6th century, was revealed, to which a monumental staircase led from street level. In Byzantine times, the area of the square was occupied by shops and workshops in which ceramic, glass and metal jewelry were produced, while in the early post-Byzantine times a naydrium was added.
The preparation of the studies for the antiquities at the “Agia Sophia” Station, as well as the previous studies for the same station (repositioning of the fountain building, construction of a roof for the protection of the antiquities, construction of a viewing corridor and a descent ladder to the level of the antiquities for their maintenance and configuration of the surrounding area), was the subject of processing by a broad working group with the participation of the five competent Directorates of the Ministry of Antiquities of the City of Thessaloniki and external scientific collaborators.
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