Ancient Theatre

The Ancient Theatre of Ohrid sits on a slope between the modern town and Samuel's Fortress, the only surviving Hellenistic theatre in the country. Cut into the natural amphitheatre of the hillside, the marble-clad seats date from the 3rd century BCE and were modified under Roman rule for gladiatorial and naumachia (mock naval) performances.

About half the original capacity is exposed; the rest disappears under modern buildings on the slopes above. Concerts during the Ohrid Summer Festival in July and August are held here, using the original seating — a memorable way to see the theatre in use. At other times entry is free and unrestricted.

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A story
The theatre was buried under earth and forgotten for centuries — local memory had it as a vineyard slope. It was rediscovered during construction work in 1935 but not properly excavated until the 1980s. Roman use overlaid the original Hellenistic seating, with gladiator-style spectacles and animal hunts added to the original Greek tragedies.

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