Roman Stadium – Plovdiv

The ancient stadium of Plovdiv is located at Dzhumaya Square, which divides the pedestrian center into two parts—”Knyaz Alexander I” Street and “Rayko Daskalov” Street. The stadium is situated below street level, with its entrance beneath the main “Knyaz Alexander I” Street.

Built following the model of the Delphi Stadium—one of only 12 such preserved worldwide—it is nearly 200 meters long. To date, its northern end and a section of the fortification wall (2nd–4th century AD) have been excavated. In antiquity, this stadium hosted sporting competitions, gladiator fights, and animal battles—including the famous Pythian, Alexandrian, and Kendreian Games.

Archaeologists have uncovered remnants of a hydraulic clock near its central entrance. A memorial plaque commemorates the 1980 Olympic Torch’s overnight stay here during its journey from Athens to Moscow. In ancient times, the stadium could accommodate around 30,000 spectators.