Stadiums Built Over Ancient Ruins and Historic Landmarks

22. Stadionul Național – Bucharest, Romania

Romania’s Stadionul Național, rebuilt in 2011 to become a world-class venue for football and concerts, rests in a city whose history stretches back millennia. During its construction, workers and archaeologists uncovered relics from both the Roman Empire and the Dacians—the indigenous people of the region who once resisted Roman conquest. One of the most significant finds was the foundation of a Roman villa from the 2nd century AD, likely belonging to a wealthy landowner or military official stationed near the ancient frontier. Nearby, fragments of Dacian pottery and tools provided additional evidence of the site’s layered past. The stadium lies not far from the Dâmbovița River, which has served for centuries as a trade route and defensive boundary. This land has seen everything from tribal fortresses and Roman garrisons to medieval markets and wartime upheaval. Stadionul Național now embodies Romanian pride on the global sports stage, but its foundation is deeply entwined with the nation’s ancient heritage. Built Over: Roman villas and ancient Dacian artifacts.