Ancient Stadium of Philipopolis

About

Ancient Stadium of Philippopolis lies beneath Plovdiv’s modern centre, a hidden Roman monument gradually revealed through careful excavation. Built in the 2nd century, it once stretched over 240 metres and hosted athletic games inspired by the traditions of ancient Greece. One of its most interesting facts is that only the northern end is visible today—the rest remains under the city’s main shopping street, making it one of Europe’s few Roman stadiums integrated directly into urban life. Inside the accessible section, visitors can explore the marble seating where spectators once watched foot races and chariot competitions. The preserved starting blocks show how athletes positioned themselves before sprinting down the long track. Inscriptions carved into the stone honour donors and officials, offering a glimpse into the civic pride of ancient Philippopolis. A modern underground hall enhances the experience with interactive displays, scale models, and projections that reconstruct the stadium’s full size. Visitors can also see fragments of decorative reliefs and architectural elements uncovered during excavations.

Plovdiv Bulgaria

Location

The Ancient Stadium of Philippopolis is located right in the very center of modern Plovdiv, under the main pedestrian street at Hristo G. Danov Street and Dzhumaya Square, 4000 Plovdiv, Bulgaria. It was built in the 2nd century AD when Philippopolis was the capital of the Roman province of Thrace, and today you can walk right over it and down into the excavated part. It is probably the most central ancient monument you will see. Because it is literally in the middle of the shopping street, everything is close by. Just steps away is the Dzhumaya Mosque, the Kapana creative district with galleries and cafes, and the City Art Gallery on Knyaz Alexander I Street. If you walk a few minutes uphill you get into the Old Town of Plovdiv where you have the Regional Ethnographic Museum in the Kuyumdzhioglu House, the Balabanov House, Hindliyan House and Lamartine House, plus the Zlatyu Boyadzhiev Permanent Exhibition and Philippopolis Art Gallery and Museum on Saborna Street. Up there is also the Ancient Theatre of Philippopolis, Nebet Tepe Fortress with its ruins and city view, and Hisar Kapia gate.