The site was closed a few days ago in order to prevent dust from construction work from damaging priceless frescos, the site?s manger said. The site will be inaugurated on November 8.
The 4th century necropolis has been excavated with the help of HUF 1.5 billion from the Europa Plan.
Excavation at the site started as early as 1782. In the 1930s, archaeologists and historians intended to invest more money at the site and open it to the public, but their plans were postponed because of the outbreak of WWII. Now that the excavation is complete, visitors can see the entire necropolis. The latest excavation work has revealed a chapel, more burial champers and 54 Roman-era tombs, as well as the remains of a castle from the Middle Ages.
A glass structure is being built around the remaining walls of the chapel, called the Cella Septichora because of its seven apses. A Roman-era herb garden will be planted next to the chapel. Additionally, the city walls as well as the walkways along the walls are being reconstructed. There are also plans to build an open-air theatre and a parking area, as well as landscape the space around the site.
The Early Christian necropolis was included on UNESCO?s World Heritage List in 2000. UNESCO said the tombs are ?important both structurally and architecturally, since they were built as underground burial chambers with memorial chapels above the ground. The tombs are important also in artistic terms, since they are richly decorated with murals of outstanding quality depicting Christian themes.?
Other cultural sites in Hungary included on UNESCO?s World Heritage List include the area of Budapest along the Danube, the Castle District and historic Andrássy Avenue, the area around Fertö, or Neusiedlersee, on Hungary?s border with Austria, the Hortobágy National Park, better known as the ?Puszta? in Hungarian, the Benedictine Abbey of Pannonhalma and the famous Tokaj wine region. On UNESCO?s World Heritage List of natural wonders are the caves of Aggtelek, which Hungary shares with Slovakia.
Source: Múlt-kor / Hungarian News Agency (MTI)
