Around the world, civilizations are behind structures and monuments that bear witness to their former glory. These Mystical statues, sacred sites, royal palaces, fortifications, ancient centers of commerce, ports, and tombs that are found in poems, songs, and films, they are all valuable remnants of a nation’s history.
Although some of these places have been lost through centuries, covered by forests and are no longer in use, this article introduces 20 amazing ruins that can represent the history of different nations around the world.
1. Roman Forum
Location: Rome
In the ancient world, all roads lead to Rome. The Roman Forum was located in a valley between the Palatine Hill and the Capitoline Hill and served as the center of the Roman Empire from 500 BC to 400 AD.
All aspects of public life in this place were well seen. Victory communities, elections, public lectures, criminal courts, gladiatorial competitions and business
Mark Anthony gave a speech at the funeral of Julius Caesar, and Augustus built a temple to worship Caesar. In 2011, the Temple of Vesta, where virgin and pure women lived, was reopened for public display.
You can learn and hear about the importance of these ruins Fascinating stories from the Roman Empire Use a guided tour. Make sure you visit the Colosseum as well.
2. Giza Pyramids
Location: Egypt
In the desert south of Cairo, three huge pyramids testify to the heritage of the ancient Egyptian pharaohs.
Pyramid of Khufu, usually referred to as the Great Pyramid of Giza. This is known that the largest and oldest of the three are the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Pyramid of Khafre and Pyramid of Menkaure are the two smaller pyramids.
There is also Great Sphinx of Giza in front of the complex, which includes smaller pyramids belonging to female members of dynasties and tombs for relatives and courtiers.
3. Acropolis
Location: Athens
Acropolis looks like one Athens’ most important achievements which has very interesting features and properties.
The city was built from 461 to 429 BC. It contains the Parthenon, the Temple of Athena Nike, Propylaea and the Erechtheion, which together illustrate the power, wealth and complexity of ancient Greece. The Parthenon is one of the classical examples of Greece, but the Erechtheion has beautiful landscapes with its superb verandas.
Tips: You can enter through the Beulé Gate (named after the French archaeologist who discovered it in 1852) and make sure you have hours of time to explore there.
There are more temple monuments around the world that you must see when traveling abroad.
4. Pompeii
Location: Italy
The eruption of Mount Vesuvius completely destroyed the city in 79 AD and buried it under molten lava. The melt dried over time. The city has ruins that reflect people’s lives at the time of the volcano eruption. For example, the meat and fish in the store, the bread in the bakery, the bathhouse, the amphitheater, the church, the temples, and more remain intact.
The frescoes at the Villa dei Misteri represent a young bride. The mosaics used in Casa del Poeta Tragico’s house are associated with inscriptions and manuscripts in the Canum Cave.
Tips: Herculaneum is also well preserved. You can access Pumpi, Herculaneum, Stabia, Oplontis and other places of interest by purchasing a 20-euro ticket.
5. Ephesus
Location: Turkey
Ephesus is located near the present-day Seleucus in Izmir province and is one of The most important Roman-Greek city in the Eastern Mediterranean.
This place is one of the most preserved ancient sites in the world. It was one of the most powerful trading ports and sacred places in the cult of Artemis. The city was later conquered by the Romans and became an important Christian site.
Ephesus was eventually conquered by the Eastern Romans and fell into the hands of the Ottoman Empire. Today visitors can visit St. Mary’s Church, Temple of Hadrian, the Roman Costal Bath, the Gymnasium, the Amphitheater and the incredible Library of Celsus.
Hints: If you are traveling in the summer, it is best to go outside early in the day or late at night to keep the air cooler and less crowded.
6. Petra
Location: Jordan
Ancient relics carved this incredible city on rocky cliffs between the Red Sea and the Dead Sea.
Petra was lost until 1812, when a Swiss probe, Johann Ludwig Burckhardt, rediscovered it. In fact, only 15% of this site has been discovered. What we can see today includes 800 tombs, luxurious temples, churches, and the treasury. You can reach this place through the canyon called Siq.
Hints: You can enjoy a candle light walking tour at night here.
7. Machu Picchu
Location: Peru
Yale University rediscovered the lost city of the Incas in 1911. Machu Picchu isn’t actually the most important sightseeing spot in Inca, but it’s one of the most famous places to visit because it was remained intact during the Spanish invasion of South America.
It was built in 1400 as the Inca Empire’s Pachacuti property. As you climb the peaks you can see its beauties and mesmerizing scenery.
Hints: You alone cannot understand the purpose of the various structures in this place. So you can use a guide there.
8. San Juan Teotihuacán
Location: Mexico
Teotihuacan is located in the northernmost part of Mexico City and is home to remarkable pre-Columbian pyramids in Central America.
Some believe that the city was built between 100 BC and 250 AD. The city had a population of over 200,000. It has multi-family residential textures. You can still see the vibrant wall paintings that are well preserved.
Hints: To see amazing works from pre-Spanish Mexico, make sure you visit the National Museum of the Museo Nacional de Antropología.
9. The great wall of china
Location: China
Construction of the Great Wall of China began in 220 BC, when China’s first emperor, Qin Shi Huang, decided to build strongholds to guard against enemy invasion.
Most of the wall was built during the Ming dynasty (1644-1688), when it became the largest military structure in the world. This wall has a length of 20,000 kilometers. Visitors can see the observation points and fortifications used by Chinese soldiers over centuries ago.
Tips: The Badaling section of this wall is easily accessible through Beijing where many tourists and visitors visit it. Instead, you can see this wall in Mutianyu, which is less congested.
10. Tikal
Location: Guatemala
Tikal is a forest town built by the Maya and reached its peak in the eighth century. The city disappeared mysteriously in 900 AD.
The city was covered by the jungle for 1,000 years, and the conquerors and explorers of Spanish gold were tired of discovering it.
In the late 1800s, archaeologists began to discover huge temples. It was amazing to see the huge temples that the Mayans built without the use of metal tools, animals to carry cargo and even wheels. Temple IV is 71 meters high.
Hints: Visitors wanting to visit ancient sites can go to Tikal National Park or stay at nearby hotels.
11. Angkor Wat
Location: Cambodia
Angkor Wat as the largest religious monument in the world is well preserved and has significant Khmer temples that make up the Angkor Temple Complex. In the twelfth century, King Suryavarman II made it the capital of the Khmer Empire. The five conical towers are positioned together to form a large lotus.
Hints: The passport image is required for the entrance ticket and you must carry your passport to tour the complex. Most visitors hire a car and a driver for the trip, but you can also use bicycles and electric bicycles.
12. Borobudur
Location: Java, Indonesia
The incredible Burobodor Temple was created during Java. Java is the largest island in Indonesia. The temple has a pyramid form and shape, each of which ascends to represent a stage of enlightenment. At the bottom of the temple, the highlights represent the Buddhist sutra. It was built between 750 and 842 AD.
Hints: If you can wake up early in the morning, sunrise is the best and most mysterious time of day to visit Borobudur.
13. Stonehenge
Location: England
Stonehenge is one of the most mysterious places in the world. It was founded in 3000 BC and used until 1600 BC.
It was probably the most widely used place of worship as a religious site.
Archaeological excavations have shown that the site was once buried in the ground. The mystery of this place is how the 45-ton stones were shipped without wheels.
Hints: The new visitor center has recently opened and has featured more than 250 works, including a remake of a Neolithic man.
14. Moai Statues
Location: Easter Island, Chile
Like Stonehenge, integrated human faces are carved by the Rapa Nui people. Most of the Moai sculptures were carved at the Raraku mine in the east of the island, but it is still unclear how they were carried and mounted on a rock platform.
15. Ellora Caves
Location: Aurangabad, India
The caves of Ellora, dug into the high cliffs of Maharashtra, testify to the peaceful coexistence of Buddhism, Hinduism, Jainism in ancient India.
This ancient site contains 34 monasteries and temples dating back to the 7th century. These huge, decorated caves are incredible works of art that require a great deal of sculpting skills.
But one the most important and interesting aspect of the Ellora caves is the Buddhist inscriptions and statues that depict the war between powerful Hindu and Buddhist gods. The Jane’s Caves are at the bottom of the complex but worth seeing.
Tips: You can also visit Ajanta caves. Unlike Ellora, these caves are mostly Buddhist ones.
16. Persepolis
Location: Iran
Persepolis Or Parsa is the name of one of the ancient cities of Iran that for many years has been the magnificent and ceremonial capital of the kingdom of Iran at the time of The Achaemenid Empire.
In this ancient city there is a palace called Takht Jamshid, built during the reign of Darius the Great, Khashayarshah and Ardashir I and has been around for about 200 years.
On the first day of the New Year, large groups of people from various countries, representing the government officials, gathered in various offerings in Persepolis and presented their gifts to the King.
17. ARÈNE DE NIMES
Location: Nîmes, France
The well-preserved Roman amphitheater is also found in Nîmes. This amphitheater was a copy of the Colosseum and was used to fight gladiators, executions and other bloody displays.
It may be hard to believe, but the Arena is still used today for concerts, bullfighting, festivities and fireworks display. Taking part in a concert in this hall is a great experience.
Hints: There are other sights in this place, including the La Maison Carrée Temple. You can visit all the places by buying a ticket.
18. Carthage
Location: Tunisia
Queen Dido built Carthage in 814 BC. Carthage was a prosperous place in the Gulf of Tunisia and Central Africa. Later the Romans rebuilt the city, which had been destroyed during the Carthage War.
In later centuries, the city was home to Christians, Arabs and Vandals. Today, visitors can visit the areas of Punic, Antonine Baths, Theater, Circus, Royal Palace and residential areas.
Tips: You can use the TGM rail lines from Tunisia to reach this area. City tours are also possible on foot.
19. Diocletian’s Palace
Location: Croatia
In the late third and early fourth centuries, the Roman empire Diocletian built a spectacular palace near his hometown of Dalmatia so that he could spend the rest of his life there.
His luxurious villa in the Adriatic Sea combines elements of Roman and Greek architecture with Roman garrisons. The four walls that surround the complex each have an entrance gate. The Golden Gate to the North, the Silver Gate to the East, the Iron Gate to the West, and the Bronze Gate to the South Sea.
20. Great Zimbabwe
Location: Masvingo, Zimbabwe
According to legend, Queen Saba ruled in Great Zimbabwe. The site is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is approximately 30 km from Masvingo. The ruins refer to the Bantu civilization of the Shona people in the Middle Ages.
Great Zimbabwe was founded in the eleventh century and in the fourteenth century became the capital of a large country on a gold-rich plateau. The place was abandoned in 1450 due to lack of water and food as well as deforestation. Archaeological excavations have discovered glass and clay grains that are related to China and Iran.
Gold and Arabic coins have also been explored in the area, all of which indicate the city’s extensive trade with the world.
Tips: Make sure to visit the Acropolis in Wreck Hill.
