Improving the archaeological site of Philippi

Money is generally the main ingredient to get new excavations under way and it is great to hear that 2.3 million euros are being made available for Philippi, the city named in honor of Alexander’s father.

The site, as it is today, is a very welcoming place with ample parking and a large park where locals like to spend time with their children playing while enjoying a cool drink in the shade of old trees. It is an excellent spot to start a visit.

Until now, the ancient site of Philippi was divided in two parts by an old and recently disaffected asphalt road keeping the theater and Paul’s prison on one side and the Byzantine churches and the Roman Forum and private houses on the other. The new project includes the removal of this tarmac allowing the site to be fully unified. At the same time, the Via Egnatia running right next to that asphalt road will become more accessible.

The works will also include new fencing of the site with a new entrance to the west of Philippi as well as the restoration of the eastern fortifications. New archaeological finds resulting from these works will certainly make their way to the local Museum of Philippi which is sadly so often overlooked by tourists.