Plovdiv Roman Stadium

Ancient stadium of Philippopolis

The Ancient stadium in May 2012
Shown within Plovdiv City Center
Location	Plovdiv, Bulgaria
Coordinates	42°08′51″N 24°44′53″E / 42.1475679°N 24.7480184°E / 42.1475679; 24.7480184
Type	Stadium
Length	240 m
Width	50 m
History
Builder	Hadrian
Material	bricks, marble
Founded	2nd century AD
Periods	Roman Empire
Site notes
Excavation dates	1923, 1973 - 1977, 2004, 2006, 2010
Archaeologists	D. Tsontcheva, Liliya Botusharova, Maya Martinova-Kyutova
Condition	Restored
Ownership	Plovdiv Municipality
Public access	Yes
Website	http://ancient-stadium-plovdiv.eu/

Coordinates: 42°08′51″N 24°44′53″E / 42.1475679°N 24.7480184°E / 42.1475679; 24.7480184

The Stadium of Trimontium in Plovdiv, Bulgaria, is among the largest structures from the time of the Ancient Rome in the Balkan peninsula. The facility, approximately 240 m (790 ft) m long and 50 m wide, could seat up to 30 000 spectators. Today, the northern curved part of the Stadium (sfendona) is partially restored and is one of the most recognizable landmarks of Plovdiv. The stadium is one of the many preserved buildings from the time of the Roman empire in Plovdiv. Other buildings of the ancient city of Trimontium are the best preserved Ancient Theatre on the Balkans; fragments of the Forum / Agora, an Odeon / Bouleuterion, fragments of two aqueducts, fortification walls, thermae, a large and a small basilica, a synagogue, residential buildings with some magnificent frescoes and many fragments of streets and buildings.

Today, the stadium is located in the centre of Plovdiv, under the main pedestrian street. Only the northern end of the edifice can be observed at Dzhumayata Square. The larger portion still lies beneath the buildings along the main street, running south from the visible part. Further excavation would be very difficult and costly.

In the past, it was situated in the Northern part of the fortified city surrounded by defensive walls, in the natural terrain between Taksim Tepe and Sahat Tepe.

The Stadium of Trimontium was built in the beginning of the 2nd century AD during the reign Emperor Hadrian (117-138). The facility, approximately 240 m (790 ft) m long and 50 m wide, could seat up to 30 000 spectators. The length of the track is one stadion - 625 Roman steps or 600 Greek steps, or approx 180 m (590 ft).