Ancient Serdica - The Western Gate of Serdica

Address

"Tsar Boris I" St, 148

Location

42.6990278,23.3197456

Description

The Western Gate is an "in-situ" archeological complex, including parts of the fortification system of ancient Serdica, along with town planning elements - streets, buildings and drains. The archeological park is shaped as a space with cultural functions - concerts, theater performances, events are conducted.

Historical Information

The first fortification wall of Serdica was erected in the second half of the 2nd century AD. It had a width of 2.20 m. At the end of the 3rd , the beginning of the 4th c.АD, a remodeling of the wall was undertaken and a ditch was dug in front of it - 14 m west of the Western gate at about 2 m deep and 5 m wide, functioning in the 4th century. It is possible that there were vertically dug dots on the periphery and at the bottom of the ditch. There was a bridge to cross the ditch. In the second half of the 6th century AD there was a falling door and a two-winged door, closed with a massive horizontal beam. Probably at the end of the 6th century and the beginning of the 7th century AD the falling door was no longer functioning. There was a two-door gate. After the middle of the 5th century, a new 1.80 m wide wall was added to the first one. Triangular towers were built along its length. The dyke no more exists, but 20 m. in front of the fortress wall another defense line - proteichisma- has been erected - with a width of about 1.50 m.