A museum displaying the findings from the Thessaloniki Metro excavations is set to be housed inside the A3 barracks building at the former Pavlos Melas Camp. Located in one of the first organized camps in Greece, the historic building dates to 1895 and has a total area of about 3000 square meters. Restoration works are fully underway and projected to be completed by the end of 2025.
Photorealistic representation of building A3 in the Metropolitan Park of Pavlos Melas. Copyright: Greek Ministry of Culture
A collection of archaeological artifacts will be showcased inside the building as well as in the courtyard surrounding the area, which will function as an open-air museum. Parts of a late antique villa excavated at the Agia Sofia Station will be permanently displayed here, as will two sarcophagi from the western necropolis of Thessaloniki. Of particular note are the vibrant mosaic floors of the villa, dating to around the 4th or 5th centuries AD, that have been detached from the building and kept in excellent condition.
The establishment of the museum is an important undertaking for the city. It is part of a broader strategic redevelopment plan for the former barracks, the ultimate goal being to transform the area into a bustling public space while promoting the history of Thessaloniki.
As Minister of Culture, Lina Mendoni, stated: “The restoration of the A3 barracks building at the former Pavlos Melas camp and the accompanying archaeological exhibitions are funded by the Ministry of Culture, with resources amounting to 14.5 million euros from the Recovery Fund. In building A3, we are creating a modern and functional museum to display and highlight a portion of the numerous findings revealed during the Thessaloniki Metro excavations.”
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