Roman Theater of Aspendos
The Roman Theatre of Aspendos is one of the best-preserved ancient theatres in the world, built in the second century AD in the ancient Greco-Roman city of Aspendos in present-day Antalya province, Turkey. Commissioned during the reign of the Antonine emperors and dedicated to the gods and the imperial family, it could seat approximately 7,000 spectators and remains sufficiently intact to host live performances to this day.
At a glance
- Type
- Roman theatre (theatrum)
- Period
- 2nd century AD, likely c. 155–165 AD under the Antonine dynasty
- Style
- Roman Imperial architecture
- Location
- Aspendos (ancient city), Serik district, Antalya province, Turkey
- Coordinates
- 36.9389° N, 31.1722° E
Overview
The theatre at Aspendos is widely regarded as the finest surviving example of a Roman theatre in the ancient world. Unlike many comparable monuments, it has retained its scaenae frons — the multi-storey stage building — almost intact, giving visitors an authentic sense of the spatial experience intended by Roman architects. The site is part of the broader archaeological zone of ancient Aspendos, which also includes an aqueduct, agora, basilica, and nymphaeum.
History
Aspendos was a prosperous city in the region of Pamphylia, enriched by trade along the Eurymedon River and under Roman rule from the second century BC onward. The theatre was built during the reign of Marcus Aurelius, and an inscription records that it was funded by two local citizens, Curtius Crispinus and Curtius Auspicatus, who dedicated it to the gods and the imperial family. In the Seljuk period the building was converted into a caravanserai, and later restoration work was carried out under the Republic of Turkey.
What you see
The cavea — the semicircular seating area — rises in two tiers divided by a diazoma and is cut into the hillside in classic Roman fashion. The scaenae frons retains two storeys of columned niches, arched openings, and decorative entablatures, though much of its original marble revetment has been lost. The orchestra, stage, and vaulted corridors beneath the cavea are largely intact, and the theatre can accommodate modern audiences of up to 15,000 for summer festival performances.
Cultural significance
The Aspendos theatre is a UNESCO-recognised heritage asset and a cornerstone of Turkey’s ancient patrimony. It demonstrates the extraordinary reach of Roman urbanism into the eastern Mediterranean and the high standard of monumental architecture that provincial cities could commission during the Imperial period. Its continued use as a performance venue links antiquity directly to the present.
Practical information
The site is located approximately 47 km east of Antalya city centre, near the village of Belkıs. It is open daily; entry fees apply. Summer opera and ballet festivals are held in the theatre — check the Antalya Metropolitan Municipality cultural calendar for event schedules.
Getting there
From Antalya, take the D400 coastal highway eastward toward Alanya and exit at the Serik/Aspendos junction. Dolmuş (shared minibus) services operate from Antalya and Serik. Organised day tours from Antalya, Side, and Belek regularly include Aspendos. The site has a car park adjacent to the theatre.
Sources & resources
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