Plovdiv Amphitheatre is a beautifully preserved Roman site which dates back to the 2nd century AD, during the reign of the Emperor Trajan.
In early October, a story spread across the world’s media: in Rome, the secret underground passage of Emperor Commodus — the infamous ruler from the first Gladiator film — was reopened to visitors. The 55-meter tunnel, once used by the emperor to discreetly enter the arena and enjoy the games, had been fully restored.
The restoration took just one year.
Now, visitors can walk the same path for €24, or join a guided tour for €32. Special lighting, tactile maps, QR codes, and digital storytelling make the ancient corridor come alive. Meanwhile, the Colosseum continues to attract more than six million tourists annually, generating immense revenue for the city of Rome.
But this story is not only about Rome.
It’s about vision, momentum, and opportunity — and about what can happen when a city dares to invest in its soul.
Sofia – A City with Its Own Forgotten Colosseum
Beneath the vibrant streets of Bulgaria’s capital lies another ancient marvel — the Roman Amphitheater of Serdika.
Once seating more than 20,000 spectators, its arena measured 60.5 meters in length, 43 meters in width, and had stands rising over 20 meters high. It was proportionally as large as Rome’s Colosseum, a powerful reminder that today’s Sofia was once a vital Roman hub on the road between Europe and the East.
Discovered and partially opened to the public in 2004, the amphitheater has now lain dormant for more than two decades.
Despite its incredible historical and economic potential, it remains hidden beneath hotels and pavements — a silent witness to missed opportunities.
Other Cities Have Done It — And So Can Sofia
Across Europe, cities have learned to transform history into living culture:
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London rebuilt Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre on the banks of the Thames, not as a museum, but as a stage for contemporary life. Each year, hundreds of thousands of visitors and performers experience 400-year-old plays under the same open roof where Shakespeare himself once stood.
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Athens revived the Herodes Atticus Odeon beneath the Acropolis, turning ancient marble into a living concert venue that hosts operas, festivals, and performances under the stars.
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Paris transformed its catacombs and medieval landmarks into cultural experiences that blend art, light, and history — drawing millions annually.
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Rome, of course, continues to restore new corners of its eternal legacy every year, understanding that cultural identity is economic power.
And then there is Sofia — still waiting, still capable of the same transformation.
The Difference Between Talking and Doing
The contrast between Rome and Sofia is not in the quality of their ruins — it’s in the energy of action.
Rome acts fast; Sofia discusses. Rome invests; Sofia hesitates.
Yet, the beauty of history is that it never disappears — it only waits for someone to bring it back to light.
A New Story for Sofia
Imagine Sofia reclaiming its Roman heartbeat, but doing it in a 21st-century way.
A revived Serdika Arena could become far more than an archaeological site. It could be a living cultural hub where history meets digital innovation.
Picture walking through illuminated corridors while interactive holograms recreate the roar of the ancient crowd. Hear the whispers of gladiators, poets, and emperors echo through immersive soundscapes. See concerts, exhibitions, and storytelling events that merge past and present in one unforgettable experience.
That’s not fantasy — it’s what London, Athens, and Rome have already done.
It’s what Sofia can do next.
From Ruins to Renaissance
Cities often chase new projects, futuristic towers, and branding slogans. But Sofia doesn’t need to invent its identity — it already owns one beneath its feet.
The Roman Amphitheater of Serdika is not just an archaeological treasure; it’s a sleeping brand waiting to be awakened.
With a restoration project financed through EU cultural programs, UNESCO, or private partnerships, Sofia could turn what is now an invisible ruin into one of Europe’s most talked-about heritage experiences.
A Symbol of Modern Leadership
To bring history back to life requires more than money — it requires imagination, courage, and pride.
A project like Serdika Reborn could serve as a beacon of new leadership, showing how a city honors its past while creating its future.
Imagine a Sofia Heritage Lab — a creative alliance of historians, architects, lighting designers, filmmakers, and entrepreneurs — working together to reimagine the amphitheater as a stage for culture, innovation, and education.
The Economics of Culture
Let’s talk numbers.
If the Colosseum in Rome generates billions annually, what could Sofia achieve with just a fraction of that flow?
If merely 1% of Sofia’s two million yearly visitors paid €20 to enter a reimagined Serdika Arena, that would generate €2 million annually — not counting jobs, collaborations, or secondary tourism effects.
Cultural investment is not charity. It’s the smartest kind of economy — one that multiplies value through meaning.
It’s Time to Act
It’s been 21 years since the amphitheater was rediscovered.
During that same span of time, Emperor Trajan built roads, conquered lands, and founded eight cities — including Ulpia Serdica, the original Sofia itself.
So, what are we waiting for?
The foundations are already there. The technology exists. The story is magnificent. All that’s missing is the will to begin.
From Serdika to Sofia – Same Ground, New Dreams
The Roman amphitheater beneath Sofia is not a ruin — it’s a message.
It tells us that greatness is not something a city builds once, but something it chooses to reclaim again and again.
If Rome could reopen a tunnel in one year, if London could rebuild a 16th-century theatre, and if Athens could turn ancient stone into living sound — then Sofia can do the same.
The only question left is: who will take the first step?
By Chris....