Thessaloniki: First Look at New Museum with Treasures from Metro Excavations

Photorealistic portrayal of the Thessaloniki metro findings museum entrance. Photo source: Ministry of Culture.

The Greek Culture Ministry recently released photorealistic images of a new museum in Thessaloniki that will host artefacts discovered during the city’s metro excavations.

Following the ministry’s announcement last year that the metro crossover building near the under-construction Sintrivani-Ekthesi Station will be the museum’s house, Culture Minister Lina Mendoni recently discussed how the story of Thessaloniki’s 23 centuries old urban life will unravel.

“The permanent exhibitions of this museum will showcase how the city evolved through time with findings related to its ancient infrastructure, buildings, public utility networks and structural engineering,” she said.

A drawing of the Thessaloniki metro findings museum entrance building. Photo source: Ministry of Culture.

According to the minister, the museum, once fully functional, will act as an educational and scientific research space as well as a point of interest for locals and visitors.

The crossover building museum will have a reception hall and café on its ground level while its underground levels (-1 and -2) will host exhibitions (permanent and guest), seminars and educational programs and film screenings for students while its third level (-3) will act as storage area partially open to the public, as well as the museum’s operation center.

Photorealistic portrayal of the museum's exhibition areas. Photo source: Ministry of Culture.

Photorealistic portrayal of the museum's exhibition areas. Photo source: Ministry of Culture.

According to the approved architectural plan, the central exhibition concept will see two distinctive showcase areas: one for findings outside the city’s ancient walls and one for those discovered within them.

As far as the latter category is concerned, it will be divided into subcategories titled: “Thessaloniki’s Ancient Infrastructure”, “Creating a City through Time”, “The Baths” and “Cottage Industries within the City”.

Photorealistic portrayal of the Decumanus Maximus exhibition area. Photo source: Ministry of Culture.

Photorealistic portrayal of the Decumanus Maximus exhibition area. Photo source: Ministry of Culture.

Photorealistic portrayal of the Decumanus Maximus exhibition area. Photo source: Ministry of Culture.

Furthermore, as previously announced, the museum will house part of the “Decumanus Maximus” discovered at the Agias Sofias metro station as well as the bath mosaic discovered at the Venizelou station, both which can not be repositioned at their original sites.

The new museum will run parallel to and complement the second museum to host Thessaloniki’s metro excavation finds which will be located at the Pavlos Melas metropolitan park in western Thessaloniki.