Thessaloniki Unveils New Metro System Amidst Ancient Roman Ruins

Thessaloniki, a city with historical roots stretching back to 315 BC, has recently inaugurated its highly-anticipated driverless metro line, a project that cost £2.2 billion and took nearly four decades to finish. The metro cuts directly through some of the most remarkable Roman and Byzantine ruins ever discovered, making the construction an archaeological journey filled with unexpected discoveries.

During the metro line's development, over 300,000 artifacts were unearthed, revealing ancient structures like public baths, residential areas, and even a bustling commercial district from the 4th century AD. One of the most striking finds was the exposure of the entire Roman road known as the Decumanus Maximus close to the Venizelou Station, which has drawn comparisons to "Byzantine Pompeii" due to its well-preserved state.

As a city in constant growth, housing over a million residents and attracting millions of visitors annually, Thessaloniki faced mounting pressure to modernize its infrastructure. The streets, crafted centuries ago, proved insufficient for the increasing population and the region's growing economic significance. The metro project emerged as a vital solution aimed at enhancing the city's transport system while lessening the dependency on cars during peak traffic.

However, the endeavor was not merely about tunnel construction; engineers had the challenging task of navigating the intricate layers of history that exist beneath Thessaloniki’s surface, making the project not just a feat of modern engineering but also a significant archaeological undertaking.