The world is filled with fascinating, historic places that are worth visiting. If you’re a history enthusiast, then you’re probably already on the lookout for your next destination. Here are some of our top picks for the best archaeological destinations in the world:
Stonehenge, UK
This prehistoric monument, located in Wiltshire, England, dates back to 3000 BC and is believed to have been built as a burial ground. It consists of a series of standing stones arranged in circular patterns, sometimes with lintels placed over them. The history of Stonehenge is among the most mysterious and fascinating known to man, as still to this day, there is a lot of speculation and uncertainty regarding its purpose. It’s believed that its construction was based on astronomical alignments and that it was used for religious purposes: in fact, the stones are arranged so the sun illuminates certain stones on certain days, marking important events throughout the year. This fascinating site is one of the UK’s most visited places.
Valley of the Temples, Italy
The Valley of the Temples is a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Agrigento, Sicily. It contains ruins from ancient Greek temples that were built by the ancient Greeks between 580 and 550 BC. There are five temples in total: two were dedicated to Demeter, one to Hera and Aphrodite, one to Apollo, and one to Athena. You can see remains of five temples here: Temple A (Doric), Temple B (Ionic), Temple C (Corinthian), Temple D (Trapezoidal), and Temple E (Polygonal). They are some of the most impressive monuments in all of Europe. The site was discovered in 1835 by Giuseppe Fiorelli, who started excavating on his own property. In 1836, he published his findings in a book called Sicilia Antica e Moderna (Ancient and Modern Sicily). His work inspired other archaeologists to continue excavating the site, so much so that today there are over 20 different archaeological projects taking place at once. Another fun fact: the valley was used as a location for the filming of two very famous movies: The Godfather Part II and The Talented Mr. Ripley.
Athenian Acropolis, Greece
The Acropolis is an archeological site that is a must-see for any traveler to Athens. It’s easy to get to and small enough that it can be explored in a few hours, but large enough that you’ll want to take your time. The Acropolis is the most famous of all the ancient sites in Greece, and was one of the most important cities in ancient times. It has been preserved remarkably well over thousands of years, which makes it so much fun to visit today. You can easily spend an entire day exploring this site because there are so many things to see: Ancient temples, statues, and fountains, beautiful gardens and a great view of the city below. And if your kids are interested in history or archeology they’ll love exploring this ancient city with you! This isn’t just an archeological destination—it’s also a fun place for families!
Have you ever been to any of these sites? Please share your experience below in the comments, I would love to hear about it!
Leave a Reply