Passengers of the new subway system in Greece can view archaeological discoveries made during construction.

The second-largest city in Greece, Thessaloniki, now has a new subway system.

Passengers of the new subway system in Greece can view archaeological discoveries made during construction.
Passengers of the new subway system in Greece can view archaeological discoveries made during construction.

The construction of a new subway system in Thessaloniki, Greece, has unearthed thousands of ancient artifacts, which have been integrated into the metro station's design in a distinctive manner.

The construction of the Agias Sofias metro station in Thessaloniki, Greece's second-largest city after Athens, commenced in 2003.

Over the past decade, excavations on the 9.6-kilometer line have uncovered thousands of significant ancient finds.

Construction of a metro station in Greece in background on photo showing escalators inside station
The construction of a new subway system in Thessaloniki, Greece, unearthed thousands of ancient discoveries from numerous time periods. (AP Photo/Giannis Papanikos)

Discoveries of ancient artifacts ranged from Roman infrastructure like roads, water systems, to Greek burial sites and mosaics.

The subway system's design is being influenced by ancient discoveries unearthed during excavations in the area, which are now displayed at the 13 stations along the route.

The transport and infrastructure minister, Christos Staikouras, stated on Friday that this project combines the old and new by integrating archaeological heritage with metro infrastructure, as reported by The Associated Press.

Ancient finds on display at metro station in Greece
Significant archaeological finds are being displayed at the metro stations for passengers to observe during their travels. (AP Photo/Giannis Papanikos)

The archaeological finds have caused the project to become more expensive and resulted in delays due to preservation efforts.

"The project encountered significant obstacles and numerous difficulties, including over 300,000 archaeological discoveries, many of which are now displayed at various stations along the main line," Staikouras stated.

The completion of the new metro, equipped with autonomous trains and automatic platform doors, totaled $3.1 billion.

The subway system's first line will open on Nov. 30, 2024, and the second line will follow in a year.

Trains parked at metro station in Greece
The Agias Sofias metro station is opening to passengers on Nov. 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Giannis Papanikos)

This subway system will be added to the list of archaeological sites in Greece.

The National Archaeological Museum in Athens, located in Greece, is widely regarded as one of the world's most significant archaeological museums and is also the largest museum in the country.

The city of Thessaloniki boasts its own archaeological sites, such as the Archaeological Museum of Thessalonki and the Polycentric Museum of Aigai.

The National Archaeological Museum in Greece
Greece is full of important ancient landmarks, including the world-renowned National Archaeological Museum in Athens. (Angelos Tzortzinis/AFP via Getty Images)

The Museum of Byzantine Culture, the Agios Dimitrios Church, and the White Tower are some of the historical destinations in Thessaloniki.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

by Ashlyn Messier

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