The Stadium at Perge – One of the Best-Preserved Ancient Stadiums

Most travellers heading east from Antalya in search of ancient monuments make straight for Aspendos. But just 17 km from the centre of Antalya, in the Aksu district, lies the ancient city of Perge – and right at its entrance stands one of the best-preserved stadiums of the ancient world. In Turkey, only the stadium at Aphrodisias is better preserved.

Perge – the capital of Pamphylia

Perge was one of the most important cities of ancient Pamphylia. Settlement here reaches deep into the Bronze Age, but the city flourished in the Hellenistic and, above all, Roman periods, when it became one of the most regularly planned cities in Anatolia. It was the birthplace of the mathematician Apollonius of Perga, famous for his work on conic sections, and according to the Acts of the Apostles, Saint Paul and Barnabas visited the city on their first missionary journey. Archaeologists have been digging here since 1946, and since 2009 Perge has been on UNESCO's World Heritage tentative list.

A stadium for 12,000 spectators

The stadium was built in the Roman era – most sources date it to the 2nd century AD, although some say construction began as early as the second half of the 1st century. It has the typical horseshoe shape: the northern end is rounded and closed, while the southern end was left open. It measures roughly 234 × 34 metres and held about 12,000 spectators. Rows of stone seats made of local limestone survive to this day along both long sides.

Interestingly, the stadium does not stand on a slope, as was customary, but on level ground. The seating therefore rests on vaulted chambers – thirty along each long side and nine in the northern curve. Spectators entered the stands through every third chamber, while the rest served as shops. Inscriptions found in some of the chambers confirm that merchants really did trade here – so it is easy to imagine how busy the place must have been on race day.

From racetrack to arena

The stadium was used mainly for athletic contests – running, wrestling and discus throwing. In later times its northern part was separated off and converted into an arena for gladiatorial combats and fights with animals. Archaeologists have also found stone blocks here which, in their view, were connected with these very spectacles.

Visiting Perge

• Location: Aksu district, about 17 km east of central Antalya; easy to reach by car or taxi.
• The stadium and theatre stand beside the access road in front of the main entrance to the site, so you will see them first. The theatre, which held roughly 13,000–15,000 spectators, is among the best preserved in Turkey.
• Inside the site you will find the Hellenistic gate with its pair of round towers, the colonnaded main streets with a water channel running down the middle, the agora and extensive baths.
• Restoration: both the stadium and the theatre have been undergoing restoration in recent years, so parts may be closed off. Check the current situation on the spot.
• Museum: the most valuable statues from Perge can be seen in the Antalya Archaeological Museum – it is well worth combining with your trip.

Tip: Combine Perge with the nearby theatre at Aspendos (about half an hour by car), and round off your day trip in Aksu by sampling the local speciality köfte piyaz – grilled meatballs served with white bean salad.

Good to know

There is almost no shade at the stadium or anywhere else on the Perge site. In summer, go in the morning or late in the afternoon, and bring a hat and plenty of water.