You have to walk right past it so cannot miss it. It's size is what is so impressive. We could not understand how someone on the top row would hear what the performers were saying....larger than most modern football stadiums

The Theatre of Dionysus was the first theatre in the world and the largest and most important theatre in ancient Greece. It is one of the very impressive sights at the Acropolis. Confusingly, there are are two theatres quite close to each other so it’s fairly easy to confuse this one with the smaller Odeon. If like us, you enter through the south gate, then this is the very first main sight that you come to. The very first dance and mime took place at this site in the 6th century BC, not as plays but as ritual celebrations to honour the gods. Over the centuries, the site transformed into the theatre that we see today. At its height, it could hold 17,000 spectators in rows upon row of tiered seats. That’s a pretty amazing number when you consider that the London Palladium only holds 2,286 seats, the Hammersmith Apollo holds around 3500 and the Sydney Opera House around 5,700. The great plays of Sophocles, Euripides, and Aeschylus, the comedies of Aristophanes were all performed here and performances could last up to 6 hours. Looking at those stone seats, Im not sure how anyone lasted that long. The VIPs of course sat in the front rows which were fitted out with much more luxurious throne-like marble seating with carved legs and armrests (not sure that would be a whole lot more comfortable on the bottom though). The statue alongside the theatre is of the ancient Greek playwright, Menander. TICKET TIP: I’d highly recommend buying the combo ticket. At €30, it is excellent value. It lasts for 5 days and includes entry to 7 ancient sites. Entry to the Acropolis on its own is €20 so if it is your first time to Athens, it makes sense to buy this ticket (unless you’re here in winter when many sites are half price).

The theatre is mostly in ruins but you can see just how large the place is. The thought of it in its completness was mind blowing seeing the area of the hill it occupies. Imagine the great and good of ancient Greece performing here and you can sense the historical significance.

This is the older of the two theaters associated with the Acropolis and is considered by many historians to be the world’s oldest theater. It is also important because this was home to ancient drama festivals where playwrights (among them Sophocles, Euripides, Aeschylus, and Aristophanes) presented their plays. Originally built in the sixth century BC, the theater underwent several additions and renovations, including the installation of front row seats that were like thrones with the name of the person the seat was built for inscribed on the seat. Built to hold 17,000 spectators, it is the least well preserved of the two amphitheaters of the Acropolis. It can be viewed from the top of the Acropolis and can be reached by a path from there, but it is more easily reached from the bottom of the hill. (PaM)

The ruins of this theatre are impressive and it certainly conjures images of a grand facility in its day. One of the most important buildings in Ancient Greece this area would have provided entertainment in a grand scale. It is best to visit this area in the early morning or late afternoon to avoid the crowds and heat.