Odeon of Herod Atticus, Athens

The southern slope of the Acropolis is the site of two ancient theaters. The one dedicated to Dionysos is the world's oldest theatre built in the 6th century BC. A few meters to the west is the Odeon of Herod Atticus, built under Roman rule. The Odeon, standing out for its impressive facade, was constructed by Herod Atticus in memory of his late wife. This majestic semicircular theater holding 5,000 people was inaugurated in 161 AD, but was destroyed a century later. Nowadays, the restored open-air Odeon serves as the city's major theater. The architectural beauty and the location just beneath the Acropolis makes it one of the world's most impressive venues for concerts and performances.