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By Laura Milligan

Taking a vacation these days can mean anything from turning off your BlackBerry for a few days to hopping on a plane to the beaches in St. Tropez. But if you’re more likely to head to the same old family vacation spot year after year, you’re probably in a travel rut. Coming up with fresh, exciting places to go is time consuming and overwhelming, so to help you out, we’ve put together this list of 12 ancient cities around the world that deserve to be rediscovered.

1. Rome: Rome is one of the most famous ancient cities, and it’s still a popular destination for tourists. The city offers walking tours, day trips and other fun excursions to the Colosseum, Pantheon, Roman Forum, The Basilica of St. Peter and more. Visitors will enjoy learning about the rich history of Rome, from the time of mythological gods and goddesses to Julius Caesar to the Byzantine era, the Holy Roman Empire and World War II. Those seeking modern day entertainment won’t be disappointed either, as the ancient city has plenty of nightclubs, live music venues, restaurants, cafes, shopping and more.
2. Athens: Athens is currently the capital city of Greece and has been continuously inhabited for 3,000 years. Originally a powerful city and city state, Athens has seen the rise and fall of many different societies, including those impacted by Socrates and Aristotle, the Byzantines, the Ottoman Empire, the Crusades and both World Wars. The landscape of the city is still influenced by ancient Greek mythology, and visitors to Athens can take full advantage of the various monuments, theaters, research centers, museums, and other cultural attractions. The Acropolis of Athens dates back to the 6th millennium BC and houses the Parthenon built in honor of the goddess Athena. Visitors to Athens can also tour famous cemeteries, the National Archaeological Museum, do shopping and sight seeing at The Plaka, and walk through the historical Syntagma Square. Athens also boasts an average of 300 days of sunshine a year, according to National Geographic, as well as plenty of exciting nightlife, cultural festivals, restaurants, luxury hotels and athletic opportunities.
3. Amesbury: The English town and civil parish Amesbury is most recognizable for its Bronze Age archeological treasures and proximity to Stonehenge. The Bronze Age dates from 3500 BC to 1100 BC, and according to Wikipedia, Amesbury is the “richest Bronze Age burial site yet found in Britain.” Amesbury is a small town of approximately 8,000 permanent residents, but tourists are attracted to the city for its culture, infamous monuments and mythology. Stonehenge, a monument comprised of particularly arranged stones, was most likely built in 2200 BC, but the earliest traces of human presence date back to 3100 BC. The monument is a part of traditional English folklore in stories about Merlin, King Arthur, the “Friar’s Heel” and others. The purpose of Stonehenge is still unknown, adding to its overall mystery and allure. Those who visit Stonehenge and the city of Amesbury will be immersed in a English culture and legend, as the town supposedly houses the same convent that Arthur’s Guinevere lived in.
4. Palermo: Palermo is an ancient Phoenician city founded during the 8th century BC on the western coast of Sicily. During the First Punic War, Palermo became a territory under the rule of the Romans and later the Byzantines. In the late 800s, Palermo was ruled by Arab Muslims, who designated the city the capital of Sicily. Palermo has also been under the rule of the Holy Roman Empire, Fascist Italy and unofficially the Sicilian Mafia. Palermo’s historical attractions include a number of cathedrals, palaces, theaters, and museums, which feature unique architecture and artifacts from each era in the city’s history. Palermo is still the capital of Sicily, which is famous for excellent food, wine, and entertainment. Visitors to Palermo will get a real taste of Sicilian culture.
5. Cairo: The area in which the city of Cairo is located has played a significant role in ancient history, from the Paleolithic times to European occupation in the 19th century to the present day. Officially founded in 969 AD, Cairo was first ruled by Arab Muslims and later by the Mamluks and the Ottomans. Napoleon came to Cairo and established Institut de l’Egypte, which quickly helped the city become a center for academics, archaeologists and scientists. Once the city began to grow, it was built in the same style as Paris, France, and today, Cairo takes full advantage of its rich culture, history and geography to attract visitors from all over the world. Located on the east bank of the Nile River, Cairo is now known as The Triumphant City. A busy metropolitan area, Cairo features many tourist attractions, including the Cairo Opera House, several important Islamic, Christian, and Jewish monuments, cultural centers, athletics, universities, popular nightclubs and bars, casinos, art galleries and more. The Pyramids of Giza are located near the outskirts of the city, giving tourists an opportunity to enjoy the atmospheres of ancient and modern Egypt at the same time.
6. Tehran: Tehran, Iran, is now a booming metropolis and the largest city in Iran that houses nearly 12 million people. Situated at the base of the Alborz Mountain, Tehran features a remarkable history full of political conflict, inspiring culture and unique architecture. Some historians believe the city was founded as early as 6000 BCE. The first Europeans to visit the city were led by the Castilian ambassador Don Ruy Gonz‡les de Clavijo in 1404. The city experienced several peaks and declines during its early history but has enjoyed a significant role in modern history. Tehran served as the site for the Tehran Conference in 1943, which brought together Franklin D. Roosevelt, Winston Churchill, and Joseph Stalin. Tehran has also experienced political and military conflict since the revolution in the late 1970s, the Iran-Iraq war in the 1980s and its current situation with the United States, Iraq, Lebanon and other countries. Tourists unaffected by politics can visit the many mosques and religious centers in the city and examples of ancient Persian architecture as well as popular attractions like the Golestan Palace, Tehran Museum of Contemporar Art, The Carpet Museum of Iran, Iranian Imperial Crown Jewels and others.
7. Jerusalem: Jerusalem is the capital city of Israel and features a diverse culture of world religions and political history. The city is considered one of the most ancient cities in the world was first founded 3,000 years ago by King David. Since then, the city has played a significant role in the history and culture of Christianity, Judaism, and Islam, as well as the Middle East. Tourists wanting to visit Jerusalem will enjoy the city’s location near the Mediterranean and Dead Seas and the Judean Mountains. Culturally, the city is very rich and popular attractions include the Israel Museum, the Holocaust memorial Yad Vashem, the Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra, Palestinian National Theater, the Israel Festival, the Western Wall, Solomon’s Temple, and lots of opportunities for shopping, dining, clubbing and more.
8. Zurich: Zurich is a scenic, vibrant city in Switzerland that is a leader in European and world business, culture and trade. Twice named the city with the best quality of life in the entire world, Zurich is now a modern city that has evolved a long way past its ancient roots. Founded in the 2nd century AD and referred to as Turicum, Zurich was an important tax collecting city during Roman times. Louis the German, the grandson of Charlemagne, built his castle in Zurich, as well as a Benedictine convent. Today, Zurich is home to just over 375,000 people and is considered the largest city in Switzerland. The Swiss stock exchange is located in Zurich, as do many important, international banking and financial companies. Tourists will want to visit the beautiful Lake Zurich, the nearby Swiss Alps, the shopping center Bahnhofstrasse, and a number of other monuments, city squares, gardens, churches and downtown entertainment. Zurich also has plenty of bars, casinos, nightclubs, movie theaters, restaurants, cafes and other activities for modern day vacationers.
9. Kyoto: Japan’s cultural city Kyoto has a rich history that remains a remarkable presence in the modern day city. Kyoto is possibly most famous because it was the resident city and capital of the reigning Japanese emperor from the year 794 until 1868. Because of its significance throughout Japanese history, Kyoto is home to the Honganji Temples, the Golden Pavilion, the imperial villa Katsura Rikyu, the innovative train station Kyoto Station, the infamous geisha district Gion, and many more monuments, cultural centers and temples. Kyoto is a member of The League of Historical Cities and When the United States was developing its strategy to use the atom bomb against Japan during World War II, they decided against attacking Kyoto because it is home to so many artifacts and important historical, cultural works of art. Tourists visiting Kyoto today can take advantage of the many festivals and city-wide events, as well as concerts, museums, flower tours, shopping, amusement parks and more.
10. Veliky Novgorod: Translated as “The Great New City,” Veliky Novgorod is “the foremost historic city of northwestern Russia,” as reported by Wikipedia. First acknowledged as a city in 859, Veliky Novgorod was originally an important trade route from the Baltics to Byzantium. The Novgorod Republic was founded in 1136, and during this time, the city became a center for culture, education and religion. The city eventually became dependent on the Russian state because of its inability to feed all of its citizens. It became an administrative center of the Russian Empire in 1727, and despite being attacked by the Germans during World War II, Novogord still features many ancient monuments, churches and uniquely designed buildings. Tourists can visit the medieval St. Sophia Cathedral, the Novgorod Kremlin, St. Nicholas Cathedral and other top attractions that house ancient manuscripts, icons, paintings and more.
11. Tikal: Tikal, also known as Tik’al, was once a key Mayan city located in present day Guatemala. Considered among the UNESCO World Heritage cities, Tikal still boasts many ancient artificats and archaeological findings from the Mayan civilization. The Tikal National Park is considered “the largest excavated site on the American continent,” according to TikalPark.com, and visitors can view the original structures standing just as they did thousands of years ago. The town’s origins date back to the 4th century BC, but reached its height sometime during the years 200 AD - 900 AD. Wikipedia reports that at that time, Tikal “dominated the Maya region politically, economically, and militarily.” Besides its archaeological significance, Tikal appears in modern day culture as well. Scenes for Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope were shot here, and the character Tikal the Echidna from the Sonic Adventure video game is named after the ancient city.
12. Santorini: Beautiful Santorini, Greece, is becoming more and more popular among tourists all over the world. With a 4,000-year old history, however, Santorini’s offerings transcend modern day entertainment. The city was officially founded in the early 8th century BC and was the capital of the city state Thera for over a thousand years. Artifacts from the early settlers have been excavated, and the city is currently organized in a similar way as it was then. Two islands found in the center of Santorini are the youngest volcanic islands in the Mediterranean Sea. Tourists will love visiting Santorini’s many beaches, including Vlychada , Perissa and Perivolos. There are also a number of lively bars, clubs, musical events, shopping districts, cafes, restaurants and more, giving visitors and Santorini natives alike the chance to relax and unwind in the scenic, ancient town.

If your family has been traveling to the same old beach shack or cabin in the woods for a yearly vacation, it’s time to get more creative. Gather everyone together to check out this list, which combines ancient history, modern day entertainment, and plenty of adventure.

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