A multi-year construction project for a new metro system in Thessaloniki, Greece, has unveiled thousands of ancient artifacts, many of which have been incorporated into the metro station design in unique ways.
Construction of the Agias Sophias metro station in Thessaloniki, Greece's second largest city after the capital Athens, began in 2003.
Since construction began on the 9.6km line more than a decade ago, excavations have unearthed thousands of important ancient artifacts.
The construction of a new metro system in Thessaloniki, Greece has unearthed thousands of ancient finds from different eras. (AP Photo/Yannis Papanikos)
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The ancient artifacts discovered range from Roman roads and water and sewage systems to Greek burial grounds, mosaics and more.
Many of the ancient discoveries from excavations in the area have been incorporated into the design of the subway system, with displays at 13 subway stations along the route.
“This project offers an amazing fusion of ancient and modern, integrating archaeological heritage and metro infrastructure,” Transport and Infrastructure Minister Christos Staikoulas told reporters on Friday, according to the Associated Press. .
Important archaeological finds are displayed at subway stations for passengers to observe during their journey. (AP Photo/Yannis Papanikos)
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The discovery of these ancient treasures made the project more expensive and also caused some delays to preserve the archaeological finds.
“The project has faced significant delays and numerous challenges, including over 300,000 archaeological finds, many of which are now on display at various stations along the main line.” explained Staikouras.
At this point, a brand new subway with driverless trains and platform doors had cost $3.1 billion to complete.
The first line of the metro system is expected to open on November 30, 2024, with the second line expected to be completed within a year.
Agia Sophias metro station will open on November 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Yannis Papanikos)
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This metro system would be one of a long list of ruins throughout Greece.
Greece is home to the National Archaeological Museum in Athens, widely considered one of the most important archaeological museums in the world and the largest museum in Greece.
The city of Thessaloniki has its own archaeological sites, including the Archaeological Museum of Thessaloniki and the Polycentric Museum of Aigai.
Greece is home to many important ancient sites, including the world-famous National Archaeological Museum in Athens. (Angelos Tsolzinis/AFP via Getty Images)
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Thessaloniki is home to historic attractions such as the White Tower, Museum of Byzantine Culture, and Agios Dimitrios Church.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
