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ANI, BABYLON, POMPEII: THE MUST-VISIT 'LOST CITIES'
16:16, 20 Mar 2015
Siranush Ghazanchyan
The 'lost cities' that you can still visit: MailOnline Travel has
compiled a list of 10 must-visit 'lost cities,' guaranteed to satisfy
everyone from history buffs to backpackers.
>From the ancient city of Babylon in Iraq, also home to the mythical
hanging gardens that have been named one of the Seven Ancient Wonders
of the World, to the medieval Armenian ruins of Ani, Turkey, these
civilizations of yesteryear are nothing short of awe-inspiring.
Ani, Turkey
The medieval Armenian ruins are situated in Kars, near the Akhurian
River on the border of Armenia, and was once the capital of the
Bagratid Armenian Kingdom.
Once a walled city with more than 100,000 residents, in the centuries
that followed, the region was conquered many times - by everyone from
Ottoman Turks to Russians - and was completely abandoned by the 1700s.
One of its most famous monuments is the Monastery of the Hripsimian
Virgins, which was thought to be built between 1000 and 1200 AD.
Persepolis, Iran
Persepolis, or 'the city of Persians,' dates back to 515 BC when it
was once the ceremonial capital of the Achaemenid Empire.
Declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1979, the ruins lie at the
foot of Kuh-i-Rahmat, or Mercy Mountains, near the city of Shiraz.
It was built on a half-artificial, half-natural terrace where a palace
complex inspired by Mesopotamian models was developed by cutting into
the rocky mountainside.
All that remains today is that which was not burned by the Greeks in
330 under the leadership of Alexander the Great.
Epecuen, Argentina
This ghost town may not be ancient, but there was a time when many
former residents were sure that it was lost forever.
Once a busting lakeside resort, the Argentinean town was flooded
without warning in November 1985 when heavy rains caused the lagoon
to burst its banks and submerged the small community in corrosive
salt water.
Although the town was never rebuilt - most cafe owners and hoteliers
simply moved to a nearby seaside town to set up shop - it's now become
a popular tourist destination once again, in particular for the Jewish
community of Buenos Aires.
Ciudad Perdida, Colombia
High in the Sierra Nevada mountains, the country's Lost City has
recently been dubbed 'the new Machu Picchu,' after being first
discovered in the 1970s.
The site is believed to date back to about 800 AD, which is over 600
years earlier than the world's most famous lost city to which many
comparisons have been drawn.
Made up of 169 terraces, which are carved into the mountains, Ciudad
Perdida, or Teyuna as its known by the local tribes, also boasts
early tiled roads and several small plazas.
However, to access the ruins, guests must be in good shape as they
will be required to climb up 1,200 stone steps through dense jungle.
Machu Picchu, Peru
This 15th century Inca site is a tourist favourite among those
interested in exploring ancient cities, attracting over one million
visitors last year alone.
Adventurers can choose from one of several multi-day treks that lead
hikers deep into the Sacred Valley, though the Inca Trail is far and
away the most popular.
Coaches are also available for those who are unable to climb the
500-year-old citadel and still wish to take in the impressive views.
Tour operators recommend arriving at dawn or dusk for the most
breathtaking views and warn that between 11am and 3pm is busiest.
Babylon, Iraq
Founded 4,000 years ago, the ancient city was the capital of 10
dynasties in Mesopotamia, and its walls and mythic hanging gardens
are considered to be one of the world's original Seven Wonders.
Also believed to be the birthplace of writing and literature, due to
unrest in the region in recent years, Babylon has not drawn as many
visitors as expected from the far reaches of the globe.
The city is located 85km south of Baghdad and is accessible only
after going through several security checkpoints.
Where once stood towering gates and a bustling market city packed
with traders, now only remains remnants of the city's walls and a
2,500-year-old statue of a lion.
The in-tact buildings at the ancient city are mainly ill-advised
attempts by former dictator Saddam Hussein who tried to reconstruct
monuments 'to glorify Iraq' and rebuilt the Nebuchadnezzar II palace
on top of the original's ruins.
Angkor Wat, Cambodia
One of the most important archeological sites in Southeast Asia,
Angkor stretches over 400 square kms and features the remains of
several different capitals of the Khmer Empire.
All were constructed from between the 9th and 15th century, but the
most famous are the Temple of Angkor Wat and the Bayon Temple.
The impressive monuments, ancient urban plans and large water
reservoirs, as well as evidence of centuries-old communication routes,
are all located in the Siem Reap Province and are indicative of an
exceptional civilization.
Petra, Jordan
The historical city, located in the Ma'an governorate, is famous for
its architecture, carved into the red sandstone rock, as well as for
its ancient water conduit system.
Ideally situated between the Red Sea and the Dead Sea, Petra was once
an important crossroads between Arabia, Egypt and Syria-Phoenicia.
The surrounding mountains are riddled with passages and gorges, though
the UNESCO World Heritage Centre is subject to erosion due to wind,
including windblown sand, and rain.
Pompeii, Italy
The ancient Roman town is situated near the current city of Naples,
and researchers believe that it was founded as early as six century BC.
However, the impressive architecture was mostly buried and destroyed
after the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD blanketed the region
in burning pumice stone and ash.
Today, the ghostly ruins, which include an amphitheatre and a port,
are one of the most popular tourist destinations in the country,
drawing 2.5 million guests each year.
http://www.armradio.am/en/2015/03/20/ani-babylon-pompeii-the-must-visit-lost-cities/
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/travel/travel_news/article-2997223/The-lost-cities-visit.html
16:16, 20 Mar 2015
Siranush Ghazanchyan
The 'lost cities' that you can still visit: MailOnline Travel has
compiled a list of 10 must-visit 'lost cities,' guaranteed to satisfy
everyone from history buffs to backpackers.
>From the ancient city of Babylon in Iraq, also home to the mythical
hanging gardens that have been named one of the Seven Ancient Wonders
of the World, to the medieval Armenian ruins of Ani, Turkey, these
civilizations of yesteryear are nothing short of awe-inspiring.
Ani, Turkey
The medieval Armenian ruins are situated in Kars, near the Akhurian
River on the border of Armenia, and was once the capital of the
Bagratid Armenian Kingdom.
Once a walled city with more than 100,000 residents, in the centuries
that followed, the region was conquered many times - by everyone from
Ottoman Turks to Russians - and was completely abandoned by the 1700s.
One of its most famous monuments is the Monastery of the Hripsimian
Virgins, which was thought to be built between 1000 and 1200 AD.
Persepolis, Iran
Persepolis, or 'the city of Persians,' dates back to 515 BC when it
was once the ceremonial capital of the Achaemenid Empire.
Declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1979, the ruins lie at the
foot of Kuh-i-Rahmat, or Mercy Mountains, near the city of Shiraz.
It was built on a half-artificial, half-natural terrace where a palace
complex inspired by Mesopotamian models was developed by cutting into
the rocky mountainside.
All that remains today is that which was not burned by the Greeks in
330 under the leadership of Alexander the Great.
Epecuen, Argentina
This ghost town may not be ancient, but there was a time when many
former residents were sure that it was lost forever.
Once a busting lakeside resort, the Argentinean town was flooded
without warning in November 1985 when heavy rains caused the lagoon
to burst its banks and submerged the small community in corrosive
salt water.
Although the town was never rebuilt - most cafe owners and hoteliers
simply moved to a nearby seaside town to set up shop - it's now become
a popular tourist destination once again, in particular for the Jewish
community of Buenos Aires.
Ciudad Perdida, Colombia
High in the Sierra Nevada mountains, the country's Lost City has
recently been dubbed 'the new Machu Picchu,' after being first
discovered in the 1970s.
The site is believed to date back to about 800 AD, which is over 600
years earlier than the world's most famous lost city to which many
comparisons have been drawn.
Made up of 169 terraces, which are carved into the mountains, Ciudad
Perdida, or Teyuna as its known by the local tribes, also boasts
early tiled roads and several small plazas.
However, to access the ruins, guests must be in good shape as they
will be required to climb up 1,200 stone steps through dense jungle.
Machu Picchu, Peru
This 15th century Inca site is a tourist favourite among those
interested in exploring ancient cities, attracting over one million
visitors last year alone.
Adventurers can choose from one of several multi-day treks that lead
hikers deep into the Sacred Valley, though the Inca Trail is far and
away the most popular.
Coaches are also available for those who are unable to climb the
500-year-old citadel and still wish to take in the impressive views.
Tour operators recommend arriving at dawn or dusk for the most
breathtaking views and warn that between 11am and 3pm is busiest.
Babylon, Iraq
Founded 4,000 years ago, the ancient city was the capital of 10
dynasties in Mesopotamia, and its walls and mythic hanging gardens
are considered to be one of the world's original Seven Wonders.
Also believed to be the birthplace of writing and literature, due to
unrest in the region in recent years, Babylon has not drawn as many
visitors as expected from the far reaches of the globe.
The city is located 85km south of Baghdad and is accessible only
after going through several security checkpoints.
Where once stood towering gates and a bustling market city packed
with traders, now only remains remnants of the city's walls and a
2,500-year-old statue of a lion.
The in-tact buildings at the ancient city are mainly ill-advised
attempts by former dictator Saddam Hussein who tried to reconstruct
monuments 'to glorify Iraq' and rebuilt the Nebuchadnezzar II palace
on top of the original's ruins.
Angkor Wat, Cambodia
One of the most important archeological sites in Southeast Asia,
Angkor stretches over 400 square kms and features the remains of
several different capitals of the Khmer Empire.
All were constructed from between the 9th and 15th century, but the
most famous are the Temple of Angkor Wat and the Bayon Temple.
The impressive monuments, ancient urban plans and large water
reservoirs, as well as evidence of centuries-old communication routes,
are all located in the Siem Reap Province and are indicative of an
exceptional civilization.
Petra, Jordan
The historical city, located in the Ma'an governorate, is famous for
its architecture, carved into the red sandstone rock, as well as for
its ancient water conduit system.
Ideally situated between the Red Sea and the Dead Sea, Petra was once
an important crossroads between Arabia, Egypt and Syria-Phoenicia.
The surrounding mountains are riddled with passages and gorges, though
the UNESCO World Heritage Centre is subject to erosion due to wind,
including windblown sand, and rain.
Pompeii, Italy
The ancient Roman town is situated near the current city of Naples,
and researchers believe that it was founded as early as six century BC.
However, the impressive architecture was mostly buried and destroyed
after the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD blanketed the region
in burning pumice stone and ash.
Today, the ghostly ruins, which include an amphitheatre and a port,
are one of the most popular tourist destinations in the country,
drawing 2.5 million guests each year.
http://www.armradio.am/en/2015/03/20/ani-babylon-pompeii-the-must-visit-lost-cities/
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/travel/travel_news/article-2997223/The-lost-cities-visit.html