Aghia Sofia

Αγία Σοφία
General information
LocationThessaloniki
Greece
Coordinates40°38′04″N 22°56′47″E / 40.63444°N 22.94639°E / 40.63444; 22.94639
Owned byAttiko Metro S.A.
Line(s)Line 1 (Thessaloniki Metro) Line 2 (Thessaloniki Metro)
Platforms1 (island)
Tracks2
Construction
AccessibleYes
History
Opening2023
ElectrifiedYes
Services
Preceding station Thessaloniki Metro Following station
Future service
Venizelou Line 1 Sintrivani/Ekthesi
towards Nea Elvetia
Line 2 Sintrivani/Ekthesi
towards Mikra
Location
Aghia Sofia is located in the Thessaloniki urban area
Aghia Sofia
Aghia Sofia
Location within the Thessaloniki urban area
Agias Sofias underground station, -2 level

Aghia Sofia (Greek: 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 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.[3][4] Additionally, a public square was also found at this station.[3] The discovery was so major that it delayed the entire Metro project for years. A historian dubbed the discovery "the Byzantine Pompeii".[5]

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.[3] 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.[6]

References

  1. Attiko Metro A.E. "Thessaloniki Metro Lines Development Plan" (PDF). www.ametro.gr. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2018-08-20. Retrieved 20 August 2018.
  2. "Thessaloniki Metro to be Ready by 2023 - Greek City Times". 24 October 2019.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Attiko Metro A.E. "Αρχαιολογικές ανασκαφές" [Archaeological excavations]. www.ametro.gr (in Greek). Retrieved 13 August 2018.
  4. Skai TV. "Ιστορίες: Μετρό Θεσσαλονίκης" [Stories: Thessaloniki Metro]. www.skai.gr (in Greek). Retrieved 13 August 2018.
  5. Giorgos Christides (14 March 2013). "Thessaloniki metro: Ancient dilemma for modern Greece". www.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 13 August 2018.
  6. "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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