Bulgaria's Colosseum
You will have your cappuccino at the very spot where brave gladiators have fought many epic battles
Book Top Experiences and Tours in Bulgaria:
If youʻre booking your trip to Bulgaria last minute, we have you covered. Below are some of the top tours and experiences!- Borovets: Snowmobile Adventure
- From Sofia: Rila Monastery and Boyana Church Group Tour
- From Sofia: Plovdiv Full-Day Guided Tour
- Sofia: Museum of Socialist Art and Buzludzha Monument Tour
- UK/Europe: eSim Mobile Data Plan
Now, we know what your initial response to that suggestion will be and we totally understand it. Rome is indeed one of the most remarkable cities in the world, filled with romantic spots and nice restaurants and historical sites and all. Of course, we do realise that virtually nothing can compete with its irresistible charm and mighty Colosseum…
Discovery and historical background:
As you can probably guess, this stunning amphitheatre was discovered by chance. This happened in 2004 during construction works. After the site was fully explored, it turned out that there was also a theatre below the amphitheatre complex that was at least 100 years older than the gladiator arena itself. According to experts, this 3rd Century building is among the largest and most imposing monuments of culture not only in Bulgaria but on the Balkan Peninsula as well. The best proof for that is its enormous size – being 60 m long and 43 m wide, the Amphitheatre of Serdica is just 10 metres smaller than the Colosseum… and that is something extraordinary. Its unique architectural design combining a fighting arena and a classical theatre into one only adds to its glory and makes it one of the most famous tourist spots in the Bulgarian capital. The Amphitheatre could hold approximately 25 000 people. Its construction began during the reign of Emperor Diocletian and was completed by Emperor Constantine the Great, who, according to the legend, was madly in love with Serdica and would often say: “Serdica is my Rome”.
Despite the fact that the bulk of the complex is inaccessible due to its location under modern-day buildings, such as the British Embassy and Goethe-Institut, the archaeologists managed to completely restore one-sixth of it and there is still plenty to see in that section: like the sand-covered fighting arena, for example, or the theatre’s dressing rooms, the eastern gate where the chariots would enter and exit the complex, and some of the original stone seats that were designated for spectators.