If you're a history buff interested in traveling to historical landmarks, you have countless sites across the world to explore. This makes finding exciting historic places easy. The challenge is narrowing down your list. To help you, we've highlighted 10 of the top historical places to visit on your next trip.
1. Stonehenge
This megalithic structure is situated near Salisbury, England. Several of its upright stones weigh about 25 tons. More than 3,000 years after its construction, two mysteries about Stonehenge continue to captivate historians:
- How did builders transport these enormous stones from Wales to the Salisbury Plain?
- What was the structure's purpose?
Theories about Stonehenge's purpose range from ancient religious ceremonies to astronomical observation. The answers are lost to millennia past, but this stone circle's mysteries make it all the more marvelous.
2. The Colosseum
The Colosseum was the Roman Empire's largest amphitheater, with a capacity of 50,000-80,000 spectators. Completed in A.D. 80, it hosted spectacles ranging from gladiator fights to wild animal hunts. Today, it is one of the most spectacular historical sites in Europe.
The Colosseum's iconic elliptical shape and enormous arches distinguish its architectural grandeur and historical significance. Book a guided tour to experience this breathtaking cultural landmark of the civilization that once ruled the known world.
3. The Vatican
Within Rome lies the Vatican, the Roman Catholic Church's historic administrative capital. This independent city-state's must-see sites include:
- St. Peter's Basilica: This High Renaissance church took over a century to build, from 1506 to 1615. Catholic tradition claims it as the burial site of Saint Peter the Apostle.
- The Sistine Chapel: This spectacular chapel is located within the pope's official residence, the Apostolic Palace. It gets its name from Pope Sixtus IV, who started building in 1473. It contains Michelangelo's most famous works, the Sistine Chapel Ceiling and "The Last Judgment."
- The Vatican Museums: These public museums display around 20,000 artworks, including some of the most iconic Roman sculptures and Renaissance pieces.
4. The Louvre Museum
The Louvre Museum in Paris is one of the most attractive destinations for art history buffs. Its awe-inspiring collection includes the Mona Lisa and Venus de Milo, among thousands of other pieces from ancient times to the 1800s. A former royal residence, the Louvre opened as an art museum in 1793. In the 1980s and '90s, the campus was renovated and expanded, including a now-iconic glass pyramid.
5. The Eiffel Tower
The Eiffel Tower was designed and built by engineer Gustave Eiffel from 1887 to 1889 to serve as the centerpiece of the 1889 World's Fair. This World's Fair marked the French Revolution's centennial. The tower stands 1,083 feet tall, making it Paris' tallest building. This monument of French history and engineering attracts millions of visitors each year.
6. The Acropolis
This fifth-century B.C. hilltop complex overlooks the ancient city of Athens, Greece. Its significant features include:
- The Propylaea: These monumental ceremonial gates marked the boundary between the sacred Acropolis and the rest of Athens. The ancient architect Mnesicles oversaw their construction.
- The Parthenon: This temple to Athena, the goddess of wisdom, is remarkable for its antiquity and historical testimony to the religious life of the ancient Athenians. But it's also an architectural marvel, with its majestic marble pillars and steps. Though centuries of damage have turned the temple into a ruin, enough remains to remind us of its historic grandeur.
7. Ephesus
Modern Turkey's borders have incorporated the ancient Greek city of Ephesus, one of the oldest cities in Europe. The 3,000-year-old city's ruins remain and are well-preserved.
Ephesus fell into decline after attacks by the Goths, silting of its harbor and a devastating earthquake. The city once contained the enormous Temple of Artemis, estimated to be four times larger than the Parthenon, but little remains. The preserved ruins you can visit today include a stadium, a theater and an amphitheater with a 25,000-person capacity.
8. The Pyramids of Giza
These three pyramids on the bank of Egypt's Nile River have stood for around 4,500 years. The oldest and largest is the Great Pyramid, which reached 481 feet and remains over 450 feet tall today. The Great Pyramid was built as a tomb for Pharaoh Khufu. Scholars still debate how the ancient Egyptians of around 2,600 B.C. managed to build this staggering structure, with its sloped compass-point sides and millions of tons of limestone and granite.
If you travel to the Pyramids of Giza, you'll also have the opportunity to see the Sphinx, which lies just south of the Great Pyramid. The Sphinx's lion body is around 240 feet long, and the top of its human head reaches about 66 feet tall.
9. The Sagrada Família
The Basílica i Temple Expiatori de la Sagrada Família, designed by Antoni Gaudi, is a church being built in Barcelona, Spain. Construction began in 1882 and has extended to today, with various pauses and setbacks along the way.
Along with the project's duration, it is remarkable for its size and architectural creativity. The Sagrada Família is on track to become the world's tallest church, as it will reach over 565 feet when its central spire is completed. Its ambitious architecture reflects Gothic Revival, Art Nouveau and Modernista styles. Though the building will take at least a few more years to complete, Pope Benedict XVI consecrated it in 2010, allowing people to begin using it for religious purposes in the meantime.
10. Machu Picchu
The ruins of this mountaintop city in southern Peru are among our most significant windows into the history of the Inca civilization. Macchu Picchu was a center of Inca religion, astronomy and agriculture. The Inca people built this Citadel in the 15th century but abandoned it after Spain conquered their empire the following century. This majestic site remained unknown to the outside world until its rediscovery in 1911.
Machu Picchu has earned its place as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the New Seven Wonders of the World. You can only access the site by train or hiking the Inca Trail, and the number of visitors allowed is limited to protect it, so plan your trip to Machu Pichu in advance.
Explore Historical Landmarks With AAA Central Penn
If you're looking to put together your next trip to a captivating historical landmark, you've got several moving parts to fit together. Along with a dazzling destination, the perfect trip involves ironing out transportation, accommodation and tour bookings while trying to get the best deals possible. Streamline the steps between you and your adventure with a friendly travel advisor from AAA Central Penn.
Our travel agency is 100 years old. Through the decades, we've built the networks and knowledge to help you plan your ideal trip to any of over 500 destinations, including some of the world's greatest historical sites. Our advisors can handle all the planning details for you while you focus on enjoying the experience. Plus, with a AAA membership, you can access cost-effective vacation packages and other travel benefits.
Find a AAA travel advisor to help you plan your historical adventure.
