site.btaState Acquires Roman Theatre in Sofia through Land Swap

The state will acquire a centrally located property in Sofia housing the remains of a Roman theatre and Amphitheatre of Serdica through a land swap, the Ministry of Culture announced on Thursday.

The Cabinet approved exchanging an immovable cultural heritage asset of national significance, owned by Bulgarian Energy Holding EAD, for an equivalent property in Sofia’s Vitosha Borough. The decision was proposed by outgoing Culture Minister Marian Bachev, outgoing Energy Minister Zhecho Stankov, and outgoing Regional Development and Public Works Minister Ivan Ivanov.

The acquired property contains parts of the Roman Theatre and Amphitheatre of Serdica, a grouped archaeological immovable cultural heritage asset of high scientific and cultural value. The swap ensures that the site passes into state ownership, guaranteeing long-term preservation, conservation and management in the public interest, while also protecting the economic interests of Bulgarian Energy Holding.

According to the Ministry of Culture, the decision advances sustainable preservation of Sofia’s cultural heritage and the responsible management of sites of outstanding historical, cultural and scientific value. It is also intended to support the development of cultural tourism and strengthen the capital’s position as a destination for cultural-historical visits.

The Roman Theatre and Amphitheatre of Serdica are listed in the National Public Register of Immovable Cultural Heritage Assets maintained by the National Institute for Immovable Cultural Heritage (NINKN) as a grouped archaeological immovable cultural heritage asset of national significance, under an order of the Minister of Culture from 2016. The site’s territory is designated for archaeological research, conservation, restoration and on-site presentation, with broad public access. The amphitheatre also lies within the second protected zone of the Archaeological Reserve of Ancient Serdica and Medieval Sredets. Partial excavations were conducted in 2004, 2005–2006, and 2009–2010.

In 2025, Deputy Culture Minister Todor Chobanov told BTA that there are plans to turn the amphitheatre into a summer stage, based on a conceptual design by the University of Architecture, Civil Engineering and Geodesy, similar to the Roman Theatre in Plovdiv.