Amphitheatre of Serdica, Sofia Region, Bulgaria

4.0 (464 reviews) Spent Ranking #21 in Sofia Historic Sites

very interesting

In the past Serdica was the capital of the eastern province of Dacia Mediterranea - part of the Great Roman Empire. It was an important commercial and political centre, large and well developed city, built in a Roman style with large stone streets, a forum, beautiful temples and impressive buildings with magnificent decorations.In 2004 during the construction works in the city center of Sofia unexpectedly came across a part of a Roman wall. Archaeological excavations immediately started – thus the Amphitheatre of Serdica (Amphiteatrum Serdicense) was discovered! This is a monumental public building with an elliptical layout and an arena in the middle, elliptically surrounded by the tiered seats for the spectators. The great number of coins and pottery discovered enabled the researchers to identify two periods in III-IV century. During the research on the site it became evident that about 5 meters under the amphitheatre there is a theatre, built in II-III century, i.e. 100 years earlier. A unique complex combining ancient amphitheatre and theatre was discovered. These are the largest buildings from the age of ancient Serdica, evidencing its heyday during the centuries. The finding was declared unique and the discovery - unmatched in the world!The Arena of Serdica is 60.5 m long and 43 m wide. However, the Amphitheatre of Serdica is the only one in the world, combining a Roman theatre and a late antique amphitheatre in one place and the only such public building in the Balkans. This makes the site truly unique and the discovery - sensational. It is a fact that no other capital or even city in the world can boast a theatre and amphitheatre together and located in its very centre. Its construction began during the reign of the Emperor Diocletian and was completed by the Emperor Constantine the Great.Interesting Facts:- The first evidence for the existence of an amphitheatre with arena for fights is a stone plate found in 1919 near the present-day building of the Cou...

Address

ul.Budapeshta 2 Arena di Serdica Residence Hotel, Sofia 1000 Bulgaria

Mobile

+359 2 810 7901

Website

https://www.arenadiserdica.com/

Current local date and time now

Tuesday, May 07, 2024, 16:19

User Ratings

4.0 based on (464 reviews)

Excellent
37%
Good
41%
Satisfactory
17%
Poor
3%
Terrible
2%

Reviews

  • 5tony k 5:00 PM Nov 1, 2017
    Just amazing - astonished that I didn't know of it before.
    In the centre of Sofia at the point they call Serdica there is the main Metro station. Whilst developing the buildings around it these underground walls were discovered. The site is still being excavated but the walls exposed so far are the basements of 2000 year old buildings showing their foundations and plumbing system. Its free to wander round and is an amazing sight. Forget the Sofia statues and churches - go and see this instead and be impressed !
  • 5jaydub1975 5:00 PM Nov 21, 2017
    Hidden Gem
    There's a total lack of fanfare about this beautifully presented and restored walk through history. Elsewhere in Europe there would be enormous charges attached to seeing only a fraction of the artefacts on show. Well worth a visit.

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