The Roman Theatre of Hierapolis is the old city’s crown jewel, located abruptly on a slope with a panoramic view of ruins and surrounding mountains. Built in two stages under the rule of Emperors Hadrian and Septimius Severus, this great construction epitomizes Roman Empire architectural genius. Once able to accommodate up to 12,000 people, the seating tiers have been painstakingly rebuilt to capture their original magnificence. Still one of Turkey’s most amazing and best-preserved ancient buildings, the theatre boasts ornately adorned stage and complex relief panels.

Designed into the rocky terrain surrounding Hierapolis, the theater blends with the surroundings. Rising in perfect symmetry, its semi-circular cavea split into several tiers provides an unhindered view of the stage. The exquisite beauty of this cultural site is enhanced by the elaborate friezes, which show mythological scenes and imperial iconography. Unlike the almost destroyed outlying theater, which gave in to seismic activity, this core edifice has endured the test of time and reflects the artistic and technical inventiveness of its builders.

Beginning in 1957 under the direction of the Italian Archaeological Mission, the excavation of this amazing monument uncovered layers of history buried beneath millennia of trash. The site’s importance was reinforced when Hierapolis-Pamukkale was included to the UNESCO World Heritage Site list in 1988. Under Turkish Ministry of Culture’s financing, a thorough restoration operation between 2009 and 2013 painstakingly rebuilt the theater’s masonry. While copies of vanished sculptures have been meticulously reconstructed based on surviving elements kept in the Hierapolis Archaeology Museum, the stage as it is today still shows a harmonic mix of ancient materials and modern stabilizers.

The dynamic character of Roman architectural innovations is reflected in the evolution of the theater Built early between the turn of the 1st century AD and BC, its earliest section had a simple Doric façade. Early in the third century, major renovations transformed the stage and the lower seating area was rebuilt in line with the theater’s allegiance to Emperor Septimius Severus. Additional changes in the fourth century modified the building to fit aquatic displays and complex performances, therefore extending the entertainment possibilities beyond conventional theater events.

The entrance cost for the Hierapolis-Pamukkale Archaeological Site easily incorporates admission to the Roman Theatre, therefore allowing guests access to a treasure store of historical marvels. Beyond the stage, the site has the mysterious Plutonium—often known as the “gate to the underworld”—a magical grotto formerly thought to be a portal to the domain of Hades. Along with the famous Antique Pool and the amazing travertines—natural thermal pools created by mineral-rich hot springs tumbling down the white limestone cliffs—visitors can tour the Hierapolis Archaeology Museum.