Aghia Sofia station explained

Aghia Sofia
Native Name:Αγία Σοφία
Native Name Lang:el
Style:Thessaloniki Metro
Style2:Both
Borough:Thessaloniki
Country:Greece
Platform:1 (island)
Tracks:2
Opening:2023
Electrified:Yes
Accessible:Yes
Owned:Attiko Metro S.A.
Map Type:Greece Thessaloniki
Map Dot Label:Aghia Sofia
Map Size:300px
Map Overlay:Map of Thessaloniki - Metro overlay.svg
Map Label Position:left

Aghia Sofia (Greek, Modern (1453-);: Αγία Σοφία, literally Holy Wisdom)[1] 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 2023.[2] 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.[3] Here, as well as at, 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 5.4m (17.7feet) below ground level.[4] Additionally, a public square was also found at this station. The discovery was so major that it delayed the entire Metro project for years. A historian dubbed the discovery "the Byzantine Pompeii".[5]

thumb|left|The nearby Church of Holy Wisdom (Hagia Sophia) of Thessaloniki, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, for which the station is named.

Aghia Sofia 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. Unlike, 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.[6]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Attiko Metro A.E. . Thessaloniki Metro Lines Development Plan . https://web.archive.org/web/20180820173029/http://www.ametro.gr/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/AM_Thess_Metro_map_Apr18_1_en.pdf . 2018-08-20 . www.ametro.gr . 20 August 2018 . live .
  2. Web site: Thessaloniki Metro to be Ready by 2023 - Greek City Times. 24 October 2019.
  3. Web site: Attiko Metro A.E. . Αρχαιολογικές ανασκαφές . Archaeological excavations . www.ametro.gr . 13 August 2018 . Greek.
  4. Web site: . Ιστορίες: Μετρό Θεσσαλονίκης . Stories: Thessaloniki Metro . www.skai.gr . 13 August 2018 . Greek.
  5. News: Giorgos Christides . 14 March 2013 . Thessaloniki metro: Ancient dilemma for modern Greece . www.bbc.co.uk . 13 August 2018.
  6. Web site: 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 . 29 February 2016 . 13 August 2018 . Greek.