Thessaloniki Metro Finds to be Displayed Near Sintrivani Station
The Thessaloniki Metro crossover building, located near the under-construction Sintrivani-Ekthesi Station, will become a museum where finds from the metro excavations will be displayed, the Greek Culture Ministry recently announced.
The “crossover” is located near the Aristotle University library and was granted to the culture ministry by Attiko Metro SA.
“This underground building whose structure resembles an archaeological cut and can withstand significant weight, is the ideal space to host the rare antiquities discovered during the excavations,” said Culture Minister Lina Mendoni.
Mendoni said that the metro works uncovered more than 300,000 finds that stand as “living proof” of Thessaloniki’s urban planning development through time.
The “crossover” museum will have four levels with a total surface of 6,370 square meters. The first two will be an exhibition area open to the public, while level three will be a special storage area. part of which will also be open for visits.
The museum’s central display will be part of the “Decumanus Maximus” found at the Agias Sofias station. The “Decumanus” is an east to west central road build in Thessaloniki during Roman times that had its east end near today’s Syntrivani area where its Kasssandriotiki Gate was located.
“Metro excavation finds like the Decumanus can not be displayed in a conventional building due to their size,” added Mendoni.
It is noted that the Sintrivani-Ekthesi Station is named after an Ottoman fountain, which marked the eastern entrance into the walled city before its expansion, and the Thessaloniki International Fair, whose grounds are immediately adjacent.
The Thessaloniki metro archaeological excavations are the largest ever in Northern Greece. Their finds’ importance and magnitude gave the city the title of “Byzantine Pompei” by history researchers and archaeologists.
A second museum to host the excavation finds will be located at the Pavlos Melas metropolitan park in western Thessaloniki.