FOR THE PRICE OF A TRAIN RIDE Antiquities are seen at Agias Sofias metro station on the first day of Thessaloniki's metro commercial use on Nov. 30. —PHOTOS BY REUTERS
ATHENS—A metro system in Greece’s second city Thessaloniki officially opened on Saturday, its stations displaying the same ancient artifacts that nearly derailed the project’s completion.
JOURNEY THROUGH TIME People look at ancient structures unearthed at Thessaloniki’s Venizelou metro station.
During construction, which began in 2006, workers discovered a Byzantine-era market, a Roman cemetery and other treasures of the city’s long and varied history.
INTO THE PAST People taking the metro in Greece’s second city will virtually be entering a museum of its history.
The finds stalled the metro’s progress and raised questions about how the city would modernize while protecting its rich past.
The answer was to blend the two by displaying the uncovered artefacts for modern-day commuters to enjoy.
A view of a subway station during a visit by Greek President Katerina Sakellaropoulou and Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis to admire artefacts unearthed during construction work in Thessaloniki, Greece, November 29, 2024.
“This is not just a public works project, which is incredibly important for the city. It is also a museum,” Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said before visiting the Venizelou station for a private tour on Friday.
Greek President Katerina Sakellaropoulou, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and other officials visit a subway station in the city of Thessaloniki to admire artefacts unearthed during construction work in Thessaloniki, Greece, November 29, 2024. The subway is set to officially open this week after two decades of construction.
“It’s probably unique in the world. We will go through an underground museum to reach the train.”
A person walks next to antiquities at Venizelou metro station on the first day of Thessaloniki’s metro commercial use in Thessaloniki, Greece, November 30, 2024.
The metro took nearly 20 years to complete, in part because of funding problems during Greece’s 2009-2018 debt crisis.
People view antiquities at Agias Sofias metro station on the first day of Thessaloniki’s metro commercial use in Thessaloniki, Greece, November 30, 2024.
It is the first such system in Greece outside Athens.
Antiquities are seen at Venizelou metro station on the first day of Thessaloniki’s metro commercial use in Thessaloniki, Greece, November 30, 2024.
Builders had to dig deeper than originally planned—up to 31 meters—to make sure the tunnels ran below the archaeological findings, according to the project’s contractor.
People view antiquities at Venizelou metro station on the first day of Thessaloniki’s metro commercial use in Thessaloniki, Greece, November 30, 2024.
“It is an opportunity for Thessaloniki to become a second Rome, in terms of antiquities,” said Melina Paisidou, one of the archaeologists to discover the relics underground.
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