Rome, established in 753 BCE, is famous for its rich history, renowned architecture such as the Colosseum and the Roman Forum, and role in moulding the Western world.
Athens, Greece
Athens, founded circa 3000 BCE, is the birthplace of Western civilisation and democracy, with notable buildings such as the Parthenon and the Acropolis.
Alexandria, Egypt
Alexandria, founded in 331 BCE by Alexander the Great, was an important centre of scholarship and culture in the ancient world, holding the famed Library of Alexandria.
Petra, Jordan
This ancient city cut into the red sandstone cliffs about the 4th century BCE is noted for its spectacular architecture, particularly the iconic Treasury and Monastery.
Palmyra, Syria
Dating back to the 2nd millennium BCE, Palmyra was a prominent city on the Silk Road and is recognized for its Greco-Roman architecture and the monumental Temple of Bel
Machu Picchu, Peru
This mystery mountainside city, built by the Inca Empire in the 15th century, is a testimony to Inca engineering and construction.
Varanasi, India
With a history reaching back to 800 BCE, this is India's oldest continuously inhabited city. It is a significant Hindu religious centre on the banks of the Ganges River.
Tikal, Guatemala
This ancient Mayan city, which flourished between 200 and 900 CE, is known for its impressive temples and palaces, as well as its intricate hieroglyphics
Babylon, Iraq
Babylon, known for the Hanging Gardens of Babylon and the Tower of Babel, was a prominent cultural and political centre in the ancient world dating back to roughly 2300 BCE.
Carthage, Tunisia
Carthage, founded by the Phoenicians in the ninth century BCE, was a great ancient metropolis and a major rival to Rome, finally being destroyed and rebuilt by the Romans.