How did Sofia's Serdika II metro station become a gateway to an ancient Roman city?
Commuters at Sofia's Serdika II metro station walk through a preserved 4th-century Roman neighborhood discovered during subway construction.
In 2010, workers expanding the Sofia Metro unearthed the ancient city of Serdica. Rather than relocating the ruins, architects integrated them into the station to create a 9,000-square-meter underground museum. Today, passengers walk along the Decumanus Maximus, the city's original main street, surrounded by 1,700-year-old stone walls and ancient homes.
Nerd Mode
The Ancient Cultural and Communication Complex Serdica was primarily excavated between 2010 and 2012 during the construction of Sofia's Metro Line 2. This archaeological site covers approximately 9,000 square meters and reveals the Roman history of the city when it served as an important administrative center. The ruins date largely from the 4th to 6th centuries AD, a period when Emperor Constantine the Great famously referred to the city as 'my Rome.'The site features the Decumanus Maximus, which was the primary east-west thoroughfare of the Roman city. Archaeologists discovered eight streets, an early Christian basilica, and several large residential buildings equipped with sophisticated 'hypocaust' underfloor heating systems. The preservation effort was led by the Bulgarian Ministry of Culture and involved complex engineering to support the modern roadway above while protecting the fragile masonry below.One of the most impressive finds is the Felix house, which contains intricate floor mosaics and advanced Roman plumbing systems. The integration of these ruins into a functional transit hub is considered a world-class example of 'in situ' preservation. This allows the 100,000 daily commuters to engage with Bulgaria's Thracian and Roman heritage as part of their routine travel.
Verified Fact
FP-0009230 · Feb 21, 2026