İznik Roma Tiyatrosu

It was built in the 2nd century AD, during the reign of Emperor Trajan, by Plinius, governor of Bithynia. Because it was built on level ground and raised on vaults, it is considered the only example in Turkey in architectural terms. It is 84 meters long and 63 meters wide, with a capacity of approximately ten thousand people.

The theater's stones were removed for the defense of the city, and some towers in the northern city walls were built with these cut stones. The 45-meter-long stage was fully uncovered during excavations; the façade has four niches and traces of marble baseboards and a frieze. The auditorium and tunnel section are largely standing.

Visit note: Excavation work is ongoing; a Dokuz Eylül Üniversitesi team has been working since 2016. The recovered artifacts are under the protection of İznik Museum. Visiting fee and hours are not stated in the sources.

The information in this listing was compiled from the following sources:

• tr.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C4%B0znik_Roma_Tiyatrosu
• kulturportali.gov.tr/turkiye/bursa/gezilecekyer/znik-roma-tiyatrosu

The information was verified on the date of compilation. We recommend calling the venue before your visit.

Cover image: Wikimedia Commons · QuartierLatin1968 · CC BY-SA 3.0