Ancient Architecture – The 6 best countries for history buffs

Whatever floats your boat when you’re
traveling, you’ll find that many people will still be keen to visit
the world’s ancient and historic sites, regardless of the reason
for the trip in the first place. Even if you're enjoying an adventure
holiday, you’ll most likely still feel a pull towards local points
of interest, especially if there’s something like the Machu
Picchu in the neighborhood. You'd be mad to miss such
spectacles, even if you're not that interested in history!

But those that are will actively seek
out the best destinations to get their history fix. And while most
countries boast their own unique attractions, some are certainly more
famous than others for the sheer number of fascinating sites you can
visit – all in one trip. Global
travelers and bloggers Agness and Cez have been to a
fair few places since giving up their day-jobs back in 2011, so it’s
a pretty good bet they can tell you the best places to visit if
you’re a history buff. lLet's step back in time with them!

Italy

Admit it, when reading the opening paragraphs of this article Italy was likely to be the first country that sprung to mind, most notably because of the Roman empire. Founded in 27 BC, it's basically the first thing you learn about in school, and anyone with even the slightest bit of interest in history will one day want to visit.

All roads lead to Rome
after all, but the whole country is littered with ancient sights and
attractions, so much so you’ll need several trips to see them all.
Don’t miss the treasures of the Vatican City while you’re here
either, and swing by Florence to visit Michelangelo’s David. Never
mind the Colosseum, everyone needs to see that masterpiece at least
once in their lifetime.

United Kingdom

Having a country with one of the oldest
monarchies in the world certainly doesn't hurt your tourist industry,
and with this year's Royal wedding visitors to the UK have gone
through the roof. However, it's not just all about Lizzy and Co, as
every corner of this relatively small island has points of historic
interest and world-class museums to boot!

From the ancient monoliths of
Stonehenge to the birthplace of Shakespeare, to the dramatic castles
of Scotland, the fame and variety of the UK’s attractions make it
one of the most frequented countries on earth. London
is obviously the most popular city to visit as it's more or less an
open-air museum. But get out of "the big smoke" and try
visiting the likes of Oxford, York, and Edinburgh for some of the
most beautiful cities you're ever likely to see, all steeped in
ancient history and overflowing with memorable attractions.

Greece

Not to be outdone, the Greeks are
famous for their own empire, firmly putting themselves on the map and
giving the world so much in terms of language and learning. In fact,
Greece is often referred to as the cradle of Western civilisation, so
perhaps you should visit here before you visit Italy.

The
capital of Athens boasts many notable sights, none
more so than the iconic Acropolis which sits in a commanding position
overlooking the city. Visiting Mount Olympus and discovering the
myths and legends of the Greek gods is also highly recommended, and
don’t even get us started on exploring the islands. There's so many
to choose from, each with their own charm and history. You're going
to be here for a very long time.

China

Our first entry out of Europe, China
has a history as ancient as they come, estimated to date back to 1250
BC. Over the course of thousands of years, China has been ruled over
by dynasties, each making their own distinctive mark on the country,
creating a rich tapestry of art, culture, architecture, and language.

The Chinese were among the first to
develop reading and writing, as well as successful commerce and
trade, with the historic and mystery of the silk road culminating
here. Sights like the Great Wall and the Forbidden City need little
introduction, but Chinese history is palatable in every corner of
this great land.

Iran

The Persians also boast one the world’s
oldest civilisations, as well as an empire that spread across much of
what is now the Middle East and Central Asia. Iran might not be at
the forefront of your mind when it comes to a holiday destination,
but aside from having some incredible ancient sites and historic
attractions, it’s also one of the friendliest places on earth.

The city of Shiraz in the south of the
country is stunning, home to the beautiful Nasir-ol-molk Mosque, and
within a short drive of the ancient ruins of Persepolis. But that’s
barely scratching the surface of what’s on offer in Iran – and
the food is sensational too!

Mexico

We were hard-pressed to choose one
location in Latin America, given the abundance of stunning historical
sites such as Machu Picchu in Peru and the mystery of the Amazon
basin. There's probably some ancient lost city in the jungle still to
be discovered. But Mexico has more than its fair share history buff
catnip, including the Pyramid of the Sun and the world famous Chichen
Itza.

This vast Mayan city attracts 2.6
million visitors annually and is dominated by the iconic “El
Castillo” temple. Mexico City itself also has some wonderful
attractions, but archaeological sites are in generous supply across
the whole country. You’ll never run out of things to see and do
here.

Not an Easy List!

There might be one or two raised
eyebrows due to some notable omissions, but it certainly wasn’t an
easy short list to make. We’ll leave it up to you when it comes to
which destinations we should have included (and which we should have
left out as a result). See! Not so easy now is it?!

Over to you guys – which country or countries should we have included and why? Let us know!

Written by ETRAMPING