The semicircular ancient Roman stone theatre of Hadrianopolis in a green Drino-valley field with mountains behind

Antika ruiner

Hadrianopolis Roman Theatre

Drino valley near Sofratikë, ~14 km south of Gjirokastër

Period: 2nd century AD (Roman); later Byzantine under Justinian
Från Himara: Drino valley near Gjirokastër, roughly a 2–2.5 hour drive east of Himara
Inträde: Free to wander (open site); minimal facilities
Öppettider: Open site, accessible in daylight hours
Tidsåtgång: 30–45 minutes

Om Hadrianopolis Roman Theatre

Hadrianopolis is the rare ancient site that reads instantly even without a guide: a compact Roman theatre, its stone seating intact enough to sit where audiences sat 1,800 years ago, set in a quiet green field in the Drino valley. Founded in the 2nd century AD and named for Emperor Hadrian, it's one of southern Albania's most accessible archaeological stops: a short drive from Gjirokastër, free to wander, and almost always empty.

Historia

A Roman city founded in the 2nd century AD and associated with Emperor Hadrian, in the fertile Drino valley near the village of Sofratikë; its centrepiece is the theatre. Centuries later the city was refurbished and expanded in the Byzantine era under Justinian (r. 527–565) and renamed Justiniapolis. Residents of that period built a church inside the old theatre, so Roman and Byzantine history sit in one structure.

Det här ser du

The compact, semi-excavated Roman theatre with surviving stone seating, the evidence of the later Justiniapolis refurbishment, and the green Drino-valley setting near Sofratikë.

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Så besöker du platsen

About 14 km / 20–25 minutes by car from Gjirokastër (≈1.5 hours from Saranda via the Drino valley), an open site near Sofratikë. Pairs with the hilltop city of Antigonea for a Roman theatre and a Hellenistic city in one Drino-valley day.

Bästa tiden att besöka

Spring to autumn, in cooler hours; any clear day suits the valley setting

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What is Hadrianopolis in Albania?

Hadrianopolis is a Roman city founded in the 2nd century AD, named for Emperor Hadrian, in the Drino valley near Sofratikë, south of Gjirokastër. Its best-preserved feature is a compact Roman theatre with surviving stone seating. It was later refurbished under Justinian and renamed Justiniapolis.

Can you visit the Hadrianopolis theatre?

Yes. It's an open site near the village of Sofratikë, free to wander, about 14 km from Gjirokastër. The theatre's surviving stone seating makes it instantly legible. There are minimal facilities, so bring water and sun protection, and combine it with the nearby Antigonea ruins.

How is Hadrianopolis different from Antigonea?

Hadrianopolis is a Roman site centred on a small, well-preserved theatre on the valley floor; Antigonea is an older Hellenistic hilltop city (founded by Pyrrhus) read mostly from its foundations and walls. Together they give you both the Roman and Greek layers of the Drino valley in a single day.