The Roman Empire was the very definition of vast. At its height, it stretched around the Mediterranean, from Spain to the Middle East and Britain to North Africa—leaving behind a 1,000-year-plus legacy in its wake, not to mention many spectacular Roman ruins.
That legacy came via huge technological advances that changed the way people lived then and still affects how we live today. Plumbing, sanitation, roads, even fast food all originated in the Roman era. But what the Romans did for us went far beyond function, thanks to their appreciation of the aesthetic and keen sense of beauty.
The best Roman sites to visit around the world today include awe-inspiring amphitheaters, vast viaducts, towering temples, magnificent mosaics, and more.
The Colosseum, Rome, Italy
The Colosseum in Rome, Italy
When it comes to the question of most spectacular Roman sites in the world, there are few people who wouldn’t have the Colosseum at the top of their list.
Built between 70 AD and 80 AD under the emperors Vespasian and Titus, the Colosseum was the ancient equivalent of a hyper-modern sports stadium in its heyday and is now considered one of the New Seven Wonders of the World. At its zenith, it was the largest amphitheater ever constructed, housing 50,000 baying fans who would gather to cheer on gladiatorial combat, animal hunts, and even mock naval battles.
The Colosseum in Rome, Italy
Today, it’s an icon and a symbol of both the huge power of the Roman Empire and modern-day Rome. Visitors gather in hordes to photograph its iconic arches.
The Colosseum is a must-visit when in the city. It’s worth looking for a guided tour of the hypogeum, the underground area where gladiators and animals waited before their time to enter the arena. While here, make sure to visit neighboring Palatine Hill—said to be the birthplace of Rome itself.
Pantheon, Rome, Italy
Pantheon in Rome, Italy
There are few better preserved Roman sites in the world than the Pantheon. Set in the historic center on Piazza della Rotonda, this magnificent Roman temple was originally constructed in 27 BC before being rebuilt around 118-128 AD after a fire devastated the original. Its name comes from the Greek for “all the gods” but in 609 AD, its theological scope was narrowed down with its conversion into a Christian church.
The Basilica of St. Mary and the Martyrs is still in operation today and is one of the reasons for the building being so well preserved. The most striking feature inside this Roman church is its massive dome with a central oculus—the largest unreinforced concrete dome in the world. Look out for some of the final resting places of notable Roman figures while here. Renaissance artist Raphael and several former kings are buried here.
The Arch of Hadrian, Athens, Greece
The Arch of Hadrian in Athens, Greece
For a city so steeped in ancient Greek ruins, Athens has its fair share of Roman sites, too. Top of the list is the Arch of Hadrian at the junction of Amalias Avenue and Lysikratous Street in downtown Athens.
Built in 131 AD, the arch is thought originally to have been part of a walkway linking the ancient Acropolis with the Temple of Olympian Zeus. It also served to commemorate the cultural fusion between ancient Greece and Rome during the Roman Emperor Hadrian’s reign.
Standing some 60 feet tall and built of Pentelic marble, this fusion is highlighted by the inscriptions over the arch. On one side it reads “This is Athens, the ancient city of Theseus,” and the other, “This is the city of Hadrian, not of Theseus.” Theseus was the founder of Athens.
A great way to capture this magnificent Greco-Roman link is to look through the arch towards Amalias Avenue and use its marble columns to frame the Acropolis in the distance.
If Athens is as hot as it can be in summer, you may need some respite. If so, head to the nearby National Gardens for some shaded relief from the often blazing sun.
Pompeii, Italy
Pompeii, Italy
Pompeii is the ancient Roman city famously frozen in time after it was buried under volcanic ash and pumice after Mount Vesuvius catastrophically erupted in 79 AD. Excavations that began in the 18th century and continue to this day have since revealed its streets, buildings, and even some of its inhabitants in incredible and occasionally grisly detail.
Located in Southern Italy about 26 miles southeast of Naples, Pompeii offers an unparalleled chance to walk through a fully preserved ancient city that showcases life in fine detail. Frescoes, mosaics, and even graffiti can be seen on a tour of the vast site.
As such, a visit here is fascinating, but both emotionally and physically draining. Be prepared with portable shade, sturdy shoes, and water. And steel yourself as your heartstrings are tugged when viewing the plaster casts of both the human and animal victims of the tragedy.
Diocletian’s Palace, Split, Croatia
Diocletian’s Palace in Split, Croatia
If Pompeii offers an insight into what life would have been like in the Roman era, Diocletian’s Palace in Split, Croatia takes that and brings it right up to date. The palace was constructed in the 4th century AD as a retirement home for the Emperor Diocletian. And while it’s nominally called a palace, in reality it functioned as much more than an imperial residence.
Covering more than seven acres, this was also a fortress and military garrison, and features temples, arches, and ancient residences. Despite this impressive history, Diocletian’s Palace is not a museum but actually a living neighborhood, forming most of Split’s historic center, with its buildings repurposed as shops, cafés, hotels, and more.
Make sure to take in the Cathedral of Saint Domnius, which is Diocletian’s mausoleum, and the Peristyle Courtyard, a central square where Roman columns meet modern street performers.
Roman Forum, Rome, Italy
Roman Forum in Rome, Italy
Set in the heart of Rome between the Colosseum and Palatine Hill, the Forum was the political, religious, and social hub of the ancient city. Dating from the seventh century BC and allegedly close to the Lupercal Cave, where city founders Romulus and Remus were raised by a she-wolf, it’s considered the birthplace of Roman civilization.
The Forum, sprawling in size, was once home to temples, basilicas, triumphal arches, and public spaces. All Roman life would have played out here. Debates, criminal trials, and military celebrations were the order of the day.
Roman Forum in Rome, Italy
Key Roman landmarks to tick off your list while here then include the Temple of Saturn, the Arch of Titus, the Curia Senate House, and the Via Sacra—the main street for triumphal processions. Check out the Capitoline Hill and museums, too. Located nearby, the hill houses incredible collections of ancient art and offers fabulously panoramic views of the Forum.
The Library of Celsus, Ephesus, Turkey
Library of Celsus in Ephesus, Turkey
At its height, the Roman Empire controlled all of Western Europe, North Africa, and reached into the Middle East via Turkey. It was at this time—around 110 AD – that the Library of Celsus was constructed at Ephesus on what is now Turkey’s Mediterranean coast.
The library was built as a monument and tomb to Tiberius Julius Celsus Polemaeanus, a Roman senator who was the then governor of Asia. At one point the library is said to have housed up to 12,000 scrolls, making it one of the largest in the Roman Empire. While that’s impressive, it’s the exterior that really wows today.
Its elaborate façade is decorated with Corinthian columns, statues, and intricate carvings that make it one of the most photographed monuments at Ephesus. That’s even more jaw-dropping when you consider some of the other ruins here that include the vast Great Theatre of Ephesus, and the Terraced Houses with their wonderfully intricate mosaics and frescoes.
Roman Amphitheater, Arles, France
Roman Amphitheater in Arles, France
Modeled on Rome’s Colosseum, the Roman Amphitheater in Arles, also known as the Arènes d’Arles sits at the heart of this historic Provençal city. Constructed in 90 AD, the arena could host up to 20,000 people who would gather here for public spectacles, from chariot races to gladiatorial contests.
Impressively, it’s still in operation today, its two tiers of 60 intricate stonework arches providing a viewpoint from which to watch modern day bullfighting and concerts. The arena is not the only Roman site here, either.
Arles is known as “Little Rome of Gaul” thanks to its impressive 10,000-seat Roman theater, baths, and the Obélisque d’Arles – an obelisk in the central Place de la République. Outside of its Roman sites, art-loving visitors can also take in a Vincent van Gogh-inspired trail that visits locations depicted in his works.
Roman Mosaics, Ravenna, Italy
Roman Mosaics in Ravenna, Italy
Around 80 miles south of Venice, Ravenna has the distinction of being an important city in three different empires. In the early fifth century AD it became the capital of the Western Roman Empire, followed by a stint as the main city in the Ostrogothic Kingdom, and as a regional powerhouse in the Byzantine Empire. Today, it’s mostly known for its Roman mosaics that spread across multiple sites.
One of the highlights of a visit is the Basilica of San Vitale, an iconic sixth century basilica with elaborate mosaics that blend those Roman and Byzantine influences. Another is the Mausoleum of Galla Placidia. This late antique Roman building is known for the starry sky mosaic on its dome.
Also of note is the Basilica of Sant’Apollinare Nuovo. Here, long processions of saints and martyrs line the walls in a series of shimmering gold mosaics.
Roman Forum, Philippi, Greece
Roman Forum in Philippi, Greece
Some 10 miles from the northern Greek city of Kavala and just outside modern-day Krinides, the ancient city of Philippi links the stories of Alexander the Great and Julius Caesar. Originally founded in 356 BC by Philip II of Macedon, Alexander’s father, it was also the site of the 42 BC Battle of Philippi.
One of the most important battles of the Roman era, it saw Mark Antony and Octavian, who later became the Emperor Augustus, defeat Brutus and Cassius, the main conspirators against Caesar. The Forum here was constructed in the first century AD as Rome’s influence continued unabated.
Not only was it the political heart of the city, home to public buildings and a market place, it also provided the setting for one of Europe’s first Christian communities, established by the Apostle Paul. As such a visit here is essential for history buffs interested in Rome’s transition from a pagan society to a Christian one.
Pont du Gard, Vers-Pont-du-Gard, France
Pont du Gard in Vers-Pont-du-Gard, France
When it comes to Roman ruins, there can be few in a more beautiful setting than this first century AD aqueduct spanning the Gardon River and surrounded by gorgeous French countryside. This bucolic setting aside, the aqueduct itself is an incredible piece of architecture.
Standing at around 150 feet tall, it is the highest Roman aqueduct ever built, testament to the brilliance of the engineers that constructed it some 2,000 years ago. The sheer scale of the project would have been mind-blowing even by today’s standards. Its three tiers of arches were once part of a 30-mile long system designed to transport water from springs at Uzès to the city that is now modern-day Nîmes.
While you could spend all day gazing at the aqueduct’s majesty, those two bookend locations are also worth a visit. Uzès is a charming medieval town, while Nîmes is home to other remarkable ruins such as the Arena of Nîmes and the Maison Carrée, a Roman-era temple.
The Roman Wall, London, England
The Roman Wall in London, England
London’s Roman Wall is one of the oldest surviving structures in a city that is packed with layers of history. Constructed around the third century AD, it was designed to help fortify the Roman city of Londinium from marauding hordes from the north.
At its zenith, the wall is thought to have stretched for around two miles, a series of gates, towers, and ditches made of Kentish ragstone and mortar protecting some 330 acres of land. The wall has been adapted, modified, and repurposed over the years, and there are now only certain sections left, particularly around Aldgate, Barbican, and Tower Hill. It’s at the latter where it’s probably at its most impressive.
Not only does it have the equally impressive Tower of London as a backdrop, but there’s also a statue here of the Emperor Trajan to solidify the Roman links. Other Roman ruins in London include the Billingsgate Roman House and Bath, and London’s Roman Amphitheatre.
The Colosseum in Rome, Italy
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