Where History and Art Meet

Located on the southern slopes of Göktepe, in the heart of Bodrum, the Ancient Theatre is one of the oldest theatres in Anatolia. Restored by a group of Turkish experts in the 1960s, the theatre continues to host many festivals and cultural events in Bodrum today.

Visitors to the theatre often spend time simply sitting on its ancient stone seats, watching the boats leaving and entering the harbour below. With its impressive view over Bodrum, the site offers a rare combination of history, culture and scenery.

Among the theatre’s notable features are the altar where sacrifices were once offered in honour of Dionysus before performances, and the holes found between some of the seats, which may have been used to support shading structures. With a distance of approximately 40 centimetres between each seat, the theatre has a capacity of around 13,000 people.

During a short climb up Göktepe, visitors can also see rock-cut tombs dating from the Roman and Hellenistic periods. These tombs still bear traces of ancient symbols of death, as well as various sarcophagi. Some of the remains from the area are today displayed in the museum at Bodrum Castle.