Restoration of Larissa’s First Ancient Theater to be Completed in 2022

The First Ancient Theater of Larissa. Photo Source: larissa-theatre.com

Restoration works on the largest open-air theater in the Central Greece region of Thessaly, the First Ancient Theater of Larissa, will be completed in the first half of 2022, said Greek Culture Minister Myrsini Zorba, who visited the ancient Greek venue this week.

Larissa, central Greece. Photo © Konstantinos Ntougkas

Overseeing the site where works including the construction of accessibility ramps are set to begin in the coming weeks, Zorba added that the theater will be included in the city’s monuments tour, thus offering visitors a complete cultural experience of Larissa.

The 10,000-seat theater is situated on the south of Frourio Hill and was constructed inside the ancient city’s center on order of King Philip V of Macedonia in the 3rd century BC. For six centuries, until the end of the 3rd century AD, the First Ancient Theater of Larissa, hosted theatrical performances and political assemblies.

Photo Source: larissa-theatre.com

In the meantime, the Larissa Municipality is seeking ways to secure funding for the redevelopment of the area surrounding the theater, announcing among others the demolition of buildings in front of the ancient venue.

The ancient marble theater is believed to have been linked to the worship of Dionysus, the ancient Greek god of the grape-harvest, winemaking and wine, fertility, and theater.