 Aug 16 - Aug 18

 Ptuj

Gladiators, legionaries, senators and other characters from Roman times will converge on Slovenia's oldest town Ptuj, for the annual Roman Games.

Held for the 17th year, the festival will see more than 800 Roman figures from seven countries re-enact the life and customs 2000 years ago when the town, called Poetovio, was a major trade and craft centre.

Andrej Klasinc, a representative of the organisers, says they are proud to host groups from almost the entire former Roman Empire for what is one of the biggest such events in this part of Europe.

The festival will culminate on Saturday, 17 August with a procession of the participants through the streets of the town's historic centre, with an accompanying programme in the central market.

Not far from the town centre, the Roman Camp Poetovio will be set up to let the visitors watch and engage in Roman games, display of skills and workshops and enjoy culinary delicacies of the time.

The festival will get under way with an opening ceremony on 16 August and conclude with a family day and Roman grape harvesting on 18 August.