JAMBAZ TEPE (Orpheus Hill) The south-eastern part of the Three Hills. At its southern foot is the Ancient Amphitheater. In ancient times, the temple of Apollo - god of the sun and music - stood on the hill. "Jambaz Tepe" means "hill of the tightrope walkers" in Turkish, because of the performances of acrobats and tightrope walkers carried out on its steep cliffs from the southeast. The ancient theater is among the best preserved ancient theaters in the world and among the main tourist attractions of Plovdiv. Built during the time of Emperor Marcus Ulpius Trajan at the beginning of the 2nd century, according to a construction inscription discovered on the frieze-architrave of the eastern proscenium. Discovered during archaeological excavations from 1968 to 1979. It is located between Jambaz Tepe and Taksim Tepe. The building has been adapted for the modern cultural life of Plovdiv and it hosts various performances for about 3,500 spectators. It has been declared an archaeological monument since 1995. The viewing places surround the orchestra (stage), which is shaped like a horseshoe. On its southern side is the skene (stage building). It is a three-story building, which at its eastern and western ends ends with prosceniums protruding towards the cavea, in which the stairs to the floors are located. The stage platform (proscenium) is 3.16 m high with a facade to the orchestra, a decorated Ionic colonnade of marble, which is crowned by triangular pediments. The facade of the skeneto towards the spectators consists of two porticoes on two floors - the first floor is in the Roman-Ionic order, and the second - in the Roman-Corinthian order. The facade is cut by three symmetrically located doors. Similar to the theaters throughout the Roman Empire, the theater in Philippopolis also has an inscription on the seats of honor. In addition to the representatives of the city government, there are designations for magistrates, friends of the emperor, etc. The discovered honorary inscriptions show that the building was also used as the seat of the Thracian provincial assembly. Probably some of the spectacles with animal fights and gladiators took place in the theater, as there are specific features of its construction. Traces of safety equipment were found in front of the first row and the three staircases that cross the podium. Most likely, these additions were made in connection with Emperor Caracalla's visit to Philippopolis in 214.

Jambaz Tepe is one of the main ones in the city, together with Nebet Tepe and Taksim Tepe, it forms the so-called Three Hills, on which the ancient city was located, and today the Old City is there. Its name comes from the steep rocks in its southern part, which have been used by acrobats and tightrope walkers for dangerous and extreme performances since ancient times. At its foot is the Monday market, and on the southwestern slope proudly stands one of the biggest sights of Plovdiv - the Ancient Theater. It was built in the 2nd century AD during the reign of Emperor Trajan. In Trihalmie itself, of which Jambaz Tepe is a part, the cultural heart of Plovdiv has been located since ancient times. Many monuments of culture and history are preserved here. The Music Academy of Plovdiv and many art galleries are located in the Old Town. Today, the old houses have been turned into a home for the works of Zlatyu Boyadzhiev, Georgi Bozhinov Slona and Anastas Konstantinov. In the 70s of the 20th century, the prehistorian Petar Detev discovered an ancient settlement from the Bronze Age under the old Mevlivi Inn (today the restaurant "Puldin"). It is assumed that the rock settlement with anthropomorphic reliefs, which was described by Bistra Koleva, Konstantin Kamenov and Dimitar Chilikov, is from the same time. These unique finds have been collected and described in a map of Trikholmieto, created by Atanas Peykov. On Jambaz Tepe is also the beautiful house perched on the hill, which was filmed in the funny Bulgarian TV series "Clinic on the Third Floor". Today, the hill, as part of the Three Hills, is one of the most visited destinations for every tourist who comes to the city of Plovdiv.

Classic road in old Town in Plovdiv

Great view, one of the six hills in Plovdiv.

it would be nice to have more benches to sit on

This place is an extremely important part when visiting Plovdiv due to its location amid the ancient town and the spectacular views it presents (you can observe almost every angle of the city). Everyone is welcome and I totally recommend going there.

Nice place

A great part from the Old town

Very nice place. All the hills in Plovdiv are wonderful! Every Plovdiv resident and a guest of the city if he has time it's nice to go around them. He will not regret it, because this is not wasted time, but a gift.

A wonderful view of Plovdiv