One of the latest ancient theaters being restored by the culture ministry, the odeon of Gitana lies in border region near frontier with Albania and the island of Corfu, in extreme northwest Greece’s Thesprotia prefecture.
According to a ministry press release, the budget for the restoration reaches three million euros via national and EU funding.

In a statement, Culture Minister Lina Mendoni, herself an archaeologist by training, noted that “…The ancient theater at Gitana is one of the most important monuments in Thesprotia, inextricably linked to the history and culture of ancient Epirus (province). It was built
in the 3rd century BC, a century before the city was founded, which was the seat of the Thesprotians, with a population of about 6,000 inhabitants. It was one of the most important economic and political centers in the wider region of Epirus and the coastal areas of the Ionian Sea. It was finally destroyed in 167 BC by the Romans, but the theater continued to be used periodically before being damaged by earthquakes and floods.”

Following the completion of the first phase of the project, which includes the restoration of the lower section of the central stands in the lower cavea and the upgrading of the archaeological site’s infrastructure, the second phase has already commenced. The latter includes the restoration of the central stands in the upper cavea, as well as the diazoma (the horizontal, curved walkway), the proscenium of the stage building and the outer stands.