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Ancient Plovdiv

The Ancient Plovdiv is the oldest core of present Plovdiv. It is situated on the three “tepes” (hills) - Nebet Tepe, Dzhambaz Tepe and Taxim Tepe that appeared to be a natural shelter in numerous threats throughout the centuries. In 1956 the old town region on the Three Hills was declared an architectural and historical preserve area, called The Ancient Plovdiv (more popularly known as The Old Town).

The Old Plovdiv area was randomly built, having no initial municipal planning. The houses, touching eaves and bay windows on the opposite sides looking almost into each other, were built right on the sidewalk. The single amalgamating requirement when building a house here was - style!

Feel the exuberant freedom and artistic creativity of that old part - all those fantastic picturesque views, different and equally enchanting, that could be seen at any corner of the Old Town.

The hill streets of Plovdiv are steep, with abrupt turns and sharp bends. It is a place well preserved and still attractive both to visitors and locals – an authentic, incredibly quiet and calm “island of beauty” in the otherwise busy town.

The Thracian settlement The Thracian settlement
The Thracian settlement
The Thracian settlement on the Nebet Tepe hill.The archeological investigation of the oldest fortified Thracian setlement on the Nebet Tepe hill began in 1945. The earliest proofs date from the VI-th millenium B.C.(The New Stone Age). During the V-th millenium B.C.(The Copper-Stone Age) a setlement was formed, which about the II-nd milleniun B.C.occupied the whole of the Three Hills and grew into a town. The fortress wall is uncovered - a Cyclopean masonry construction (rubble stone walls faced with giant uncut stones) - a stone work from the Pre-Roman, Roman and the Late Antique periods.
the Fortress Wall the Fortress Wall
the Fortress Wall
Part of the fortress wall around the milleniums-old town,     known  by the names of Poneropolis, Philippopol, Pulpudeva, Evmolpia , Trimontium, Ulpia, Flavia, Metropol, Neokor, Plovdiv.You could easily recognize the different levels of the wall - built in different periods by different rulers (the first level displays remains of the Thracian wall, while the second one is from the time of Philip II of Macedonia (359-336 B.C.).  The third level of the wall  was built in the Roman time - by the Emperor Marcus Aurelius in 172 AD.
The Lapidarium The Lapidarium
The Lapidarium
The Lapidarium just opposite the Balabanov House - displaying elements from antique marble friese in the Old Town.
The Round East Tower The Round East Tower
The Round East Tower
The Round East Tower from the old Roman city walls at the Hisar Kapia gate. Right on top of the East Tower, the magnificent St. St. Constantine and Helena church stands as the spiritual continuation in time of once war and guard fortress.
A view to the East Wall A view to the East Wall
A view to the East Wall
A view towards the East Wall. 
The water reservoir The water reservoir
The water reservoir
The Roman-times water reservoir on the Nebet Tepe hill.
The East Gate The East Gate
The East Gate
 The parade street with its rich colonnade near the eastern gate of Philipopolis.
Today's East Gate Today's East Gate
Today's East Gate
The contemporary "East Gate" to the Old Town (just a few meters away from the ancient East Gate)
The Ancient Theatre The Ancient Theatre
The Ancient Theatre
The famous Ancient Theatre. It dates from Roman times. This part of the Trimontium Acropolis was built when the Romans made Plovdiv a provincial capital in the 2nd century. Its construction started during the reign of the Roman emperor Trajan (96-117 AD) somewhere around 114-117, and was finished by his step-son Emperor Hadrian (117-138 AD). It was destroyed in the 5th c. by Atilla, who attacked Philippopol.  It stands between the south-western slope of the Dzhambaz Tepe and the Taxim tepe hill, with a perfect view to the Rhodope Mountains.  
The Ancient Theatre The Ancient Theatre
The Ancient Theatre
Plovdiv's Ancient Theatre is the largest Roman building found on the territory of Bulgaria. It was excavated accidentally during a reinforcement project at the southern fortress wall in the late 1970's. Today it is used for staging opera and theatre festivals, concerts and other performances. Following a restoration project taking 10 years to complete, its 28 tiers of marble seats are suitable for 3800 spectators. Many classical drama performances, operas, and concerts are presented on stage in the open air, including Plovdiv Opera and Philharmonic Society's Annual Verdi Festival.    
The Ancient Theatre The Ancient Theatre
The Ancient Theatre
  It had almost 7 000 seats at the time. The names of the city quarters were written on the benches of each sector, so every spectator would know where to sit.
The Ancient Theatre The Ancient Theatre
The Ancient Theatre
The ancient stone steps, allmost 2000 years old, are still in use.
The Ancient Theatre The Ancient Theatre
The Ancient Theatre
The magnificent Ancient Theatre and  beautiful blue house  rising up above it.
The Roman Forum The Roman Forum
The Roman Forum
The nord part of the Forum.
The Roman Forum The Roman Forum
The Roman Forum
The Roman Forum.
The Roman Forum The Roman Forum
The Roman Forum
The part of the Fortress wall south of the Forum.
The Roman Forum The Roman Forum
The Roman Forum
A srteet of the Roman Forum.
The Roman Forum The Roman Forum
The Roman Forum
A srteet of the Roman Forum..
The Roman Forum The Roman Forum
The Roman Forum
 Frieze-architrave with an inscription from the Treasury
Subway Archaeological Subway Archaeological
Subway Archaeological
Ancient street leading to the Forum. Today it is a subway, named "Archaeological".
The Eyrene mosaic The Eyrene mosaic
The Eyrene mosaic
The central part of the "Eyrene" mosaic (dated middle of 3rd century) found in the east end of subway called The Archaeological. Now it is exhibited in the Archaeological Museum in Plovdiv.
The Roman Stadium The Roman Stadium
The Roman Stadium
The Roman Stadium.
The Roman Stadium The Roman Stadium
The Roman Stadium
The reconstruction plan-drawing of the Roman Stadium, by the eminent Plovdiv architect - Arch. Dr. Matey Mateev.
The Roman Stadium The Roman Stadium
The Roman Stadium
The Roman Stadium now used as a open theatre and music stage.
The Aqueduct The Aqueduct
The Aqueduct
The restored part of aqueduct - the 18 km long water-supply system, supplying the town with fresh water from the mountains. It was destroyed by the Turkish invaders, at the time when the town was under siege, at the end of 14th century. 
Hissar Kapiya Gate Hissar Kapiya Gate
Hissar Kapiya Gate
The Hissar Kapiya GateThis meeting point has long had an indisputable power of attraction - the Hissar Kapiya fortress gate, which was built during the reign of the Roman Emperors Trajan and Marcus Aurelius.   That is the only preserved gate from the east side of the Acropolis. It is believed to be built during the Byzantine rule (5th - 6th c.AD) The archaeological research proves that the gate had rectangular battle towers on its left and right sides - today the left one is in the bases of the Koyumdzhioglu House, while the right one is under the altar of the St. St. Constantine and Helena church.  The other three gates and parts of the wall, had been ruined more than two centuries ago, but their places are precisely located.