Agias Sofias metro station (Greek: Αγίας Σοφίας, literally Holy Wisdom)[2] is an under-construction metro station serving Thessaloniki Metro's Line 1 and Line 2. The station is named after the church of Hagia Sophia, located nearby. It is expected to enter service in 2024.[3] Construction of this station has been held back by major archaeological finds, and it is designated as a high-importance archaeological site by Attiko Metro, the company overseeing its construction.[4] Here, as well as at Venizelou, Roman Thessaloniki's marble-clad and column-lined Decumanus Maximus (main east–west avenue), along with shops and houses, was found running along the route of the Via Egnatia (modern Egnatia Street) at 5.4 metres (18 ft) below ground level.[4][5] Additionally, a public square was also found at this station.[4] The discovery was so major that it delayed the entire Metro project for years. A historian dubbed the discovery "the Byzantine Pompeii".[6]
Αγίας Σοφίας Agias Sofias | ||||||||||||||||||||
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| General information | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Location | Thessaloniki Greece | |||||||||||||||||||
| Coordinates | 40°38′04″N 22°56′47″E / 40.63444°N 22.94639°E | |||||||||||||||||||
| Owned by | Elliniko Metro | |||||||||||||||||||
| Line(s) |   | |||||||||||||||||||
| Platforms | 1 (island) | |||||||||||||||||||
| Tracks | 2 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Construction | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Accessible | Yes | |||||||||||||||||||
| Key dates | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 30 November 2024 | Planned opening[1] | |||||||||||||||||||
| Services | ||||||||||||||||||||
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Agias Sofias station will feature a mini museum within the station, similar to those of Athens Metro stations like Syntagma, which houses the Syntagma Metro Station Archaeological Collection.[4] Unlike Venizelou, however, the archaeological finds will not be kept in situ; they will be disassembled and reassembled elsewhere.
The station also appears in the 1988 Thessaloniki Metro proposal.[7]
References
edit- ^ "Θεσσαλονίκη: Μετρό από τα δυτικά μέχρι τη Θέρμη και την Περαία - Οι μελλοντικές επεκτάσεις με 26 νέους σταθμούς" [Thessaloniki: Metro from the west to Thermi and Perea - Future extensions with 26 new stations]. Makedonia (in Greek). Thessaloniki. 29 August 2024. Archived from the original on 29 August 2024. Retrieved 23 September 2024.
- ^ Kaltsas, Chris (21 February 2024). "Μετρό Θεσσαλονίκης: Ανακοινώνονται σύντομα οι νέες επεκτάσεις". Radio Thessaloniki (in Greek). Thessaloniki. Archived from the original on 22 September 2024. Retrieved 22 September 2024.
- ^ "After 18 Years Construction, Thessaloniki's Metro Will Open in 2024". 5 October 2023.
- ^ a b c d Attiko Metro A.E. "Αρχαιολογικές ανασκαφές" [Archaeological excavations]. www.ametro.gr (in Greek). Retrieved 13 August 2018.
- ^ Skai TV. "Ιστορίες: Μετρό Θεσσαλονίκης" [Stories: Thessaloniki Metro]. www.skai.gr (in Greek). Retrieved 13 August 2018.
- ^ Giorgos Christides (14 March 2013). "Thessaloniki metro: Ancient dilemma for modern Greece". www.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 13 August 2018.
- ^ "Κι όμως! Το ΜΕΤΡΟ Θεσσαλονίκης είναι έτοιμο (στα χαρτιά) από το 1987!" [It's true! The Thessaloniki Metro was ready (on paper) in 1987 already!]. www.karfitsa.gr (in Greek). 29 February 2016. Retrieved 13 August 2018.
See also
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