Two Days of Roman History and Culture at Lux Aurelius Festival

The Lux Aurelius Festival was held in Sremska Mitrovica, Serbia, on August 1–2, 2025. The festival lasted two days and took place at three locations in the city center: the City Park, the park behind the Srem Archives, and the Žitna Pijaca Square.

The first day featured the festival’s opening program. At 7:00 p.m., a parade of participants set off from the Imperial Palace to Žitna Pijaca Square. The opening program was held in the amphitheater at Žitna Pijaca Square. In cooperation with the Srem Institution for the Preservation of Culture, the Lux Verbi oratory revue was presented. The program also included orators who are currently serving prison sentences. The art of public speaking in Sremska Mitrovica has a tradition spanning more than three decades. The dramatic program was performed by the Gartel Drama Studio and its young actors, students of the studio. A dialogue between actors playing the roles of the narrator and Marcus Aurelius officially opened the Lux Aurelius Festival.

The following day, August 2, a Roman military camp was set up in the park behind the Srem Archives. From 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., legionaries from Svishtov (Bulgaria), Alba Iulia (Romania), and Sremska Mitrovica demonstrated martial arts, sword fighting, archery, and defense against barbarian attacks.

Across from the legionary camp, in the City Park, a Roman market was organized, showcasing crafts such as coin minting, pottery, glass and leather products, antiques, and food products. In the library premises and at the museum, workshops were held on wool processing, pottery, mosaics, and writing on wax tablets.

A significant contribution to the program was also made by the project partners: Zsolnay Heritage Management Nonprofit Ltd., Tourism Council – Svishtov, Rousse Museum, and Alba Iulia Municipality.

In cooperation with local tourist guides, three free guided tours were organized for visitors. Groups visited archaeological sites including the Imperial Palace, the Museum of Srem with its Lapidarium, the Early Christian Basilica of Saint Demetrius, and the remains of Sirmium’s craftsmen’s quarter at Žitna Pijaca Square. A digital map was used to guide visitors. Volunteers in the City Park and at the Imperial Palace of Sirmium site interviewed visitors or distributed QR codes for online surveys.

The evening program began with a Roman slave market in the City Park, followed by a parade through the city center streets and a performance in the amphitheater at Žitna Pijaca Square. After a speech by Marcus Aurelius based on his work Meditations, a fire dance and a music program were performed. At the end, participants and the audience released lit candles into the Sava River, symbolically carrying the light of the Lux Aurelius Festival into the Danube.