7 Fascinating Facts About The World’s Oldest Cities

Every city on the globe has a tale to tell.

The ancient ruins have much more to share concerning the rich cultural heritage. They have a great history, lovely architecture, and exhibit traces of growing human civilizations. With the exception of human invasions and natural disasters, most of the world’s oldest towns have stood the test of time. So, let’s take a peek at some of the world’s oldest cities that are still alive at the time.

1. Petra, Jordan: About 15% of Petra Has Been Examined by Archaeologists

Petra, the ancient city, is one of the world’s most famous tourist destinations today. It was developed in 400 BC as the capital of the Nabateans, a trading culture. It was a busy desert metropolis for many years before being abandoned and forgotten for ages. Many of its structures are cut straight into desert stone, and researchers believe that 85% of the site is still buried beneath the sand, waiting to be revealed.

2. Athens, Greece: Under Your Feet Lie Ancient Ruins

Something antique appears to be uncovered, hardly a matter wherever you dig in Athens! That was undoubtedly the case during the construction of the Athens Metro. We suggest going on Athens’s Acropolis guided tour, as it is the best way to experience Athens’ most iconic sight and to gain a greater understanding of the Acropolis and ancient Greece. Athens is Greece’s oldest city and the second oldest in Europe, with a history reaching back over 5000 years. As could be expected, innumerable strange, fantastic, terrible, and joyous occurrences have occurred in Athens over this timeframe.

3. Tikal, Guatemala: It Is Hidden Deep in the Guatemalan Jungle

Tikal, one of the most important Mayan towns, was founded approximately 300 AD in what is now Guatemala. It grew over time, and by the end of the century, it was home to 50,000 people.

Its vast pyramids and temples were finally forgotten, reclaimed by the forest, and rediscovered in the nineteenth century. The forest which surrounds Tikal is incredibly important to keep safe. It is considered one of the world’s last lungs.

4. Damascus, Syria: One of the World’s Oldest Continually Inhabited Cities

Damascus is usually regarded as one of the world’s oldest continuously inhabited towns, with evidence of settlement reaching back to between 10,000 and 8,000 BCE. Because of its position and endurance, the city has served as a crossroads for civilizations that have come and gone. In 2018, the large city was home to approximately 2.5 million people.

The city has over 125 monuments from various times in its history. The Great Mosque of the Umayyads is one of the most significant and oldest stone mosques in the world.

5. Rome, Italy: St. Peter’s Basilica Required 150 years to Construct

Rome, the center of one of history’s greatest empires, is undoubtedly the most known of all ancient capitals. The city was built in the eighth century BC and eventually spread across Rome’s Seven Hills.

This majestic structure may be located in Vatican City, a nation inside Rome. St. Peter’s Basilica is the ancient burial location of Saint Peter the Apostle and should be included on any Rome itinerary. Julius II placed the foundation stone for the Cathedral in 1506, while Bernini finished the circular plaza leading up to it in 1667. The entire majesty of this church can only be appreciated from the inside, where Michaelangelo’s spectacular dome stands 448 feet above the floor.

6. Bagan, Myanmar: Bagan Now Has Around 2,200 Temples and Pagodas

Bagan’s origins are unknown; however, it was probably between the second and 9th centuries. It increased in significance as the center of the Pagan Empire, which grew to unify most of contemporary Myanmar for the very first time. The city served as a learning center for both Buddhism and secular areas such as languages and medicine.

Approximately 2,200 of 10,000 Buddhist temples, pagodas, and monasteries built in the Bagan Plains between the 11th and 13th centuries survive. Possibly, this is the reason the location is so popular among tourists.

7. Cairo, Egypt: The World’s Oldest University Is Located in Cairo

Cairo is known as “the city of 1,000 minarets,” a metaphor for the city’s many mosques, huge and tiny, old and new. Muezzins invite Muslims to prayer five times a day using enormous speakers, the “athan” resonating through communities.

Cairo is Egypt’s capital and biggest city. The metropolitan area of the city is the largest in the Middle East and the Arab world, and the 15th-largest in the world. It is connected with ancient Egypt, as the legendary Giza complex and the ancient city of Memphis are located within its geographical region.

Cairo is home to the Arab world’s largest and oldest film and music industries, as well as al-Azhar University, the world’s largest institution of higher study. Many foreign media, firms, and organizations maintain regional headquarters in the city.

These historic cities formerly served as the hubs of important civilizations, and some of them do so even now. Each of these towns has a long history, and thousands of tourists travel each year to see the numerous monuments and ruins that are still remaining.