ADVENTURE
Archaeological sites to visit at least once in your life
Wonders from the past, ancient cities returned to light, breathtaking views: there are many beautiful places that each of us should see at least once in our lives.
The world and history have so much to offer us and wherever we are, we could find an ancient archaeological site that deserves to be visited.
Here are some of the most fascinating archaeological sites, scattered around the world: these places are also the most visited by tourists for their beauty and priceless historical value.
Archaeological sites to visit at least once in your life
Wonders from the past, ancient cities returned to light, breathtaking views. The world and history have so much to offer us and wherever we are, we could find an ancient archaeological site that deserves to be visited. Here are some of the most fascinating ancient places, scattered around the world: these places are also the most visited by tourists for their beauty and priceless historical value.
Great Wall, China
Also present among the 7 wonders of the world named by the New Open World Corporation, the Great Wall is, according to some estimates, also the most visited archaeological site in the world. The Great Wall was built at the behest of Emperor Qin Shi Huang (the same to whom we owe the famous Terracotta Army), to defend the empire from the nomadic populations and, in particular, from the Huns.
Pyramid of Giza, Giza, Egypt
Also known as the pyramid of Cheope or Khufu, it is the oldest and largest of the three pyramids that belong to the necropolis of Giza and its construction should date back to about 2500 years before the birth of Christ. Egyptologists believe that the pyramid was built as the tomb of Pharaoh Cheope: a short distance from the pyramid is also the Great Sphinx of Giza, depicting the mythological figure with the head of a man and the body of a lion.
Chichén Itzá, Yucatán, Mexico
Chichén Itzá is an ancient city believed to have been built by Maya in the sixth century AD. This historic site was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1988. One of the best times to visit the place is on the occasion of the autumn and spring equinoxes, when you can admire a fascinating optical effect on the steps of the temple of Kukulkan.
Colosseum, Rome, Italy
Originally known as Anfiteatro Flavio, the Colosseum is among the most visited monuments in the world and its construction dates back about 70 years after the birth of Christ, with the inauguration taking place 10 years later. Inside the Colosseum, which could hold up to 85,000 people according to estimates, the ancient Romans attended gladiator shows and the most important public events.
Stonehenge, Salisbury, United Kingdom
Stonehenge is an ancient archaeological site, dating back to about 3,000-2,300 years before the birth of Christ. The function of these large boulders arranged in a circular way has not been fully clarified, but many scholars agree that Stonehenge represented an ancient astronomical observatory, useful in particular on the days of the equinoxes and solstices, which are also the moments in which today many tourists gather to watch the sun rise or set at the archaeological site.
Teotihuacan, Teotihuacan, Mexico
Located about 40 kilometers from modern Mexico City, Teotihuacan is one of the best preserved pre-Columbian cities in the world. On this site, walking along the main street called Calzada de los Muertos, you can admire pyramids, murals and sculptures.
Archaeological excavations of Pompei, Naples, Italy
The remains of the archaeological excavations of Pompei date back to the famous eruption of Vesuvius in 79 AD, when the ancient city of Pompei was buried under an immense blanket of ash and lapilli. Today this place, preserved in an excellent way, is one of the best testimonies of Roman life. In the archaeological complex it is in fact possible to admire the amphitheater, the forum, the temples, but also ancient houses and prestigious villas.
Alex Kwok, Wikimedia Commons
Longmen, LuoyangCaves, China
These caves represent a series of shrines where Buddhist characters are portrayed. This magnificent place consists of 2,345 caves and niches, 2,800 inscriptions, 43 pagodas and over 100,000 images of the Buddha. In 2000, the Longmen Caves site was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.
Ephesus, Izmir, Turkey
Ephesus was one of the most important cities in Anatolia. Its ruins are among the most visited archaeological sites in the world and here you can admire the theater, the temple of Adriano, the library of Celso (in which there is also the tomb of Tiberio Giulio Celso) and ancient, as well as splendid, villas of the nobles, embellished with spectacular mosaics.
Canyon de Chelly, Arizona, United States of America
Protected natural area, the Canyon de Chelly was used in ancient times by nomads, who used natural caves as shelters. The canyon has numerous places of historical and scenic interest, such as the White House (in photo), an ancient settlement built into the rock.
Acropolis, Athens, Greece
Symbol par excellence of Ancient Greece, the Acropolis of Athens is located about 150 meters above sea level and here you can admire some of the most important and significant masterpieces of Greek culture: the Parthenon (temple dedicated to the Goddess Atena), the Propylaea (the sacred entrances), the Erechtheion (Ionic temple) and finally the temple of Athena Nike.
Villages
02/10/2023
Vatican City, officially the Vatican City State, is a landlocked city-state on the Italian peninsula, the world's smallest sovereign state by population (869 according to a 2019 census).
The Vatican is what remains of the ancient Papal State, a portion of Italian territory over which, for centuries, the authority of the Pope reigned supreme. The real problems began with the birth of the Kingdom of Italy and the Pontiff's loss of temporal power. Today, only a tiny part of the State that once was remains.
Always a place of intrigue and mysteries but also a place of preservation of a great deal of Christian art, Vatican City still remains one of the most visited places in the world, and not only by Catholics or Christians, but tourists from all over the globe.
Travel without booking
30/09/2023
In the desert of Karakum, in Turkmenistan, there is a huge gaseous crater known as the Gate of Hell, which is presumed to have been burning, without ever stopping, since 1971.
The crater was formed following the collapse of a natural gas cave and the name Gate of Hell was given to it by the local population, who live in the nearby village of Derweze. The name is associated with the fact that inside the crater, with a diameter of about 70 meters and a depth of 20, there is constantly fire, flames and boiling mud. At night, flames are visible even several kilometers away.
According to the local population, the Gate of Hell is a supernatural phenomenon. The explorer George Kourounis managed to take some soil samples inside the crater and from the analysis would have discovered the presence of bacteria that survived despite the high temperatures and present are inside the crater and not in the surrounding terrain.
Villages
28/09/2023
Barcelona is a kaleidoscope of art, culture and natural beauty. Start with the Sagrada Familia, Gaudí's masterpiece, still under construction, and the Parc Güell, with its colourful and imaginative sculptures.
The Barri Gòtic, the historical heart of the city, fascinates with its alleys and squares.
Don't miss La Boqueria market, a gourmet's paradise, and Casa Batlló, another Gaudí jewel. Montjuïc offers breathtaking views and the Parc de la Ciutadella is perfect for a relaxing break.
Luxury shopping and modernist architecture await you at Passeig de Gràcia.
Enjoy the beach at Barceloneta and admire Picasso's art at the museum dedicated to the famous painter.