Thessaloniki’s Metro Construction, Greece
ICOMOS Heritage Alerts 2020 ICOMOS Heritage Alerts draw on the knowledge of the ICOMOS professional network, as well as the information supplied by third parties, such as civil society organisations, to investigate requests for international action where potentially significant heritage places are threatened, in order to achieve a rigorous, independent assessment of the situation. The information provided in this article on the 2020 Heritage Alerts includes developments up to 19/02/2021.
VENIZELOS METRO STATION – THESSALONIKI, GREECE During the construction of the Thessaloniki metro, a major Roman Byzantine archaeological complex was found at the future location of “Venizelos Station”. Reversing a 2017 decision, a Ministerial Decision issued in March 2020 gave permission for the temporary removal
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ICOMOS Annual Report 2020
of the antiquities and their repositioning after completion of the metro construction. ICOMOS Hellenic considered that this would lead to the fragmentation of the monument, the cancellation of its cultural value and the loss of its authenticity. Following the Heritage Alert issued by ICOMOS Hellenic, the 20th ICOMOS General Assembly held in December 2020 also adopted a resolution calling for the in situ preservation of this ensemble.
