Ancient Stadium of Philippopolis

A second-century stadium that held up to thirty thousand spectators lies beneath the city's main pedestrian street. The running track was about one stadion long — roughly one hundred and eighty metres — and fourteen rows of marble seats rose along its sides. The Pythian Games were held here, which is known from coins depicting the stadium that were minted in Philippopolis. Only the northern semicircular end, the sphendone, has been excavated: the rest has remained under the city, and no one intends to open it up. The exposed part is sunk several metres below street level, roofed over and lit, so you can go down straight from Dzhumaya Square and find yourself on ancient steps. Several more fragments of the seating tiers are visible in the basements of nearby shops — the owners left them behind glass. The marble seats have kept traces of the markings for individual places.

On the map