In 1919, a stone slab was found in Sofia with an illustration of Gladiator struggles. Where have they been held? – It remains unknown for nearly a century. The amphitheater of Serdika was accidentally discovered in 2004 during the construction of Arena di Serdica Hotel.
The Serdica’s Amphitheater was built at the end of the 3rd and early 4th centuries. It was outside the fortress walls. Its oval arena is 60.5 m long and 43 m wide. It is only a few yards smaller than the Coliseum in Rome. The height of its stands is about 20 meters. The Amphitheater of Serdica was the third largest in the Empire. It is believed to have accommodated 25,000 people.
So far, the amphitheater can not be fully disclosed. In the basement of the Arena di Serdica Hotel you can see only part of its rostrum. There are buildings built on the main rostrum, and the Goethe Institute falls right in the middle of the ancient arena.
