Roam Away From Rome

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Rome is one of the most beautiful cities in the world, but it’s always crawling with tourists. Between the city’s romantic beauty and rich history, Rome’s popularity is unsurprising but is sometimes frustrating. The architectural achievements of the ancient Romans are astounding (like 7-Wonders-of-the-World astounding), but modern Rome is certainly not the only place to see them. With all of the tourism and attention that the Colosseum and the Roman Forum attract, it’s easy to forget that Rome is not just the Italian capital, but was also an empire which controlled up to 2 million square miles of land!

Save some money, beat the crowds, and discover the greater Roman empire at these ten unexpected sites of Roman ruins!

1. Jerash, Jordan

Once known as the Roman city of Gerasa, the ruins in Jerash are said to be the best-preserved Roman ruins outside of Rome! The complex at Jerash is a vast collection of monumental structures, part of a large Roman city that stretches as far as the eye can see. Just a sample of the attractions at Jerash includes the Arch of Hadrian, the Hippodrome, the Temples of Zeus and Artemis, two large theaters, and the enormous forum which contains 160 standing columns. Visitors can spend an entire day walking around Jerash, and that’s about how long it takes to see everything! Jerash is just 30 minutes outside Jordan‘s capital city of Amman, and also adjacent to the modern city of Jerash, so visiting these must-see ruins while in Jordan is quite easy!

2. Pula, Croatia

Though it is only the eighth-largest city in Croatia, Pula is absolutely littered with Roman ruins! In the center of the city is a large, first-century Roman amphitheater, which perhaps attracts the most attention due to its size and its stellar condition, but Pula also boasts several gates and arches from the Roman period and a Temple of Augustus. There are so many Roman relics built into this city that walking through Pula is like going on a scavenger hunt. Bonus: this city is on the water! 

3. Carthage, Tunisia

Carthage may have been one of the most famous Roman cities, yet I find that most people don’t know that its ruins still exist! Modern-day Tunisia is the home of the city of Carthage, and Tunis, the present capital, is built adjacent to the site. Carthage was the home of many famous figures like Queen Dido, Hannibal, and St. Augustine of Hippo, and the city has been of strategic importance for millennia because of its centrality in the Mediterranean. Thus, there is a palpable air of historical significance at these ruins. Check them out on a trip to Tunis! 

4. El Djem, Tunisia

The amphitheater at El Djem is the second set of ruins in Tunisia to make this list. While Carthage is a special historical site, this striking Roman amphitheater in eastern Tunisia is too incredible to leave out. Beat the crowds at the colosseum in modern Rome and visit the one in El Djem, which was modeled after the one in Italy. Since the crowds are so much smaller at El Djem, visitors can also get amazing photos of the empty amphitheater and explore it with few restrictions.

5.Leptis Magna, Khoms, Libya

The ruins at Leptis Magna make up another city-complex similar to Jerash. I find that a series of ruins like this can really take visitors back and immerse them in ancient Roman life as they wander through the former city. The main attractions of the Leptis Magna ruins include the Arch of Septimius Severus, which was built by the Roman emperor of the same name who was born here, as well as an enormous basilica and theater. Bonus: Take in the view of the southern Mediterranean in the distance at these coastal Roman ruins!

6. Nimes, France

This beautiful city in southern France is home to a gorgeous little Roman amphitheater, located right in the center of town! Walking through the streets of Nimes, you might also come upon a Roman temple, fountains, statues, or even some aqueducts, all set amongst the quaint French town. This amphitheater is particularly exciting to visit because it is still used regularly to host bullfights!

7. Volubilis, Morocco

Modern Morocco is home to a handful of ruinous Roman sites, but Volubilis is definitely the most famous. Located in the hills just outside the Moroccan city of Meknes, Volubilis is one of the best places to see ruins that reveal more intricate details of Roman life. Here, visitors can find amazing Roman roads, baths, basilicas and temples, arches, and even some remains of mosaics, inscriptions, tools, and machinery!

8. Baalbek, Lebanon

The Temple of Bacchus in Baalbek, Lebanon is one of my picks because it is in such amazing condition. The majority of the walls and ornamental elements are still standing at this site, and the temple itself is simply enormous. There are several other temples adjacent to the Temple of Bacchus, namely one for Jupiter and one for Venus. Though situated in a quieter part of eastern Lebanon, Baalbek is only about a two-hour drive from Beirut, and between its rich Greek, Roman, Muslim, and Christian history and the site is definitely worth a day trip.

9.  Bath, England

Yes, the Roman empire really did reach the British Isles! Though few Roman ruins are well preserved (water erosion does a number on stone structures) Bath in Somerset, England is home to Roman-built baths that you can still visit today! A few hours from London, and quite close to Stonehenge, Bath has also been voted one of the most picturesque places in the UK because of its quaint streets and the natural beauty surrounding it. Discover the Roman artifacts and these amazing baths in….well, Bath! 

10. Ephesus, Turkey

In Western Turkey, the ruins of Ephesus may contain some of the most unique Roman ruins today. The ruins are sprawling and boast several temples, theaters, statues, and more, but its most striking building is the Library of Celsus, which is said to have been among the most impressive buildings in the Roman Empire. Built to serve as a mausoleum, the library of Celsus was the 3rd largest library in the ancient world. Ephesus is also home to an enormous amphitheater, Roman roads, and uniquely well-preserved terrace-houses which belonged to the wealthiest class of Romans. In this archaeological site, the mosaics which ornamented the walls and floors of these residences are still so intact that it almost seems fake. Get past the amphitheaters and temples at Ephesus for a taste of what Roman home life was like at these ruinous homes, which are the likes of those at Pompeii! 

Honorable Mentions:

The Roman empire was so enormous that it was nearly impossible to narrow this list down to just 10 destinations! Here are a few more places to check out amazing Roman relics:

  1. Amman, Jordan
  2. Porta Nigra, Trier, Germany
  3. Split, Croatia
  4. Alexandria, Egypt
  5. Hadrian’s Wall, UK
  6. Arles, France
  7. Palmyra, Syria
  8. Timgad, Algeria
  9. Plovdiv, Bulgaria

Cover Photo: Arles, France by decar66/Flickr

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