Thousands of discussions are ongoing over the oldest cities in the world. But, it is not that easy to track the history. It can be an imprecise discipline – ancient towns and villages perhaps more so.
While the oldest cities in the world have not been nominated yet, there are hundreds of ancient towns & villages that date back decades or even centuries. Some of these cities boast a huge historical heritage enlisting them among the unique places to visit. Based on their culture, grade and establishment, we have selected the top 10 oldest cities in the world including a few ancient towns & villages. Some of them are so immersive to behold your attention quickly. Let’s explore the history of rich architecture in pictures!
1. Alberobello, Puglia, Italy – 1343
An impressive small town in the foothills of Puglia, Alberobello is famous for its unique and authentic cone-shaped huts. They are well-preserved by the UNESCO world heritage. Trulli was established to avoid taxes but with millions of tourists visiting here throughout the year, it was entitled to pay tax for the historic wonders it preserves.
Why Visit Here: Various shops, museums, and conical huts make it a perfect ancient town that derives everyone.
2. Marburg, Germany – 1527
Being one of the most popular university towns, Marburg has been the cultural hub of Europe. As Gothic and Renaissance architecture embraces the city, it is considered one of the oldest cities in the world.
Why Visit Here: One of the ancient towns in Europe, Marburg preserves the oldest pedestrian zones and universities. You can read about the oldest universities in the world here!
3. Jodhpur, Rajasthan, India – 1459
The “Blue City of India”, Jodhpur was the former capital of the Mewar kingdom. Being one of the biggest and most populated cities of Rajasthan, Jodhpur is third among the oldest cities in the world. It preserves castles, temples, bridges, ruins, forts, museums, and picturesque warm bluish buildings that all date back centuries. You can check the Top 5 Most Visited Tourist Places in Rajasthan here.
Why Visit Here: Discover spice markets, savor Rajasthani delicacies, shop for traditional clothes, paintings and have fun.
4. Ronda, Malaga, Spain – 1607
A city preserving rich history atop of mountains, Ronda is the most beautiful ancient town in Spain that lies 750m above sea level. The Guadalvin river running through the city surrounding nature’s delights attracts visitors from around the world. With Canyon El Tajo and architecture preserving Neoclassical style, it comes as one of the oldest cities in the world.
Why Visit Here: It features ancient temples, structures, and centuries-old rock-carved paintings of Cueva de la Pileta.
5. Byblos, Lebanon – 5000BC
A beautiful port city on the coast of the Mediterranean, Byblos is considered to be inhabited at least 5,000 BC. One of the oldest cities in the world, Byblos – the name is taken from the ancient book – “Biblos”. Here are immersive shots of this ancient town!
Why Visit Here: A pretty fishing port at the backdrop of an ancient fort and ancient harbor amid the medieval town, it’s worth a visit.
6. Bergamo, Italy – 196 BC
This beautiful town located near Milan is spread across impressive hills and the Alps. Founded by Celtic Tribe, Bergamo is one of the oldest cities in the world having its roots deep into the Roman Empire since 49 BC.
Why Visit Here: This small yet beautiful town offers a wide range of glorious wonders ranging from cultural heritage and ancient architecture.
7. Trakai Island, Lithuania – 1430
Preserving a historic Gothic Palace built by Lithuanian Dukes in the 11th century, Trakai Island is not just an impressive ancient town but also homes to some of the best castles in Europe. From Medieval exhibits to museums, castles, and ancient buildings, it derives most of its history.
Why Visit Here: With a range of water activities, amazing city tours to cozy restaurants, it offers a perfect blend of authentic history and modern habitat.
8. Athens, Greece – 5,000 BC
Showing the earliest evidence of human habitation and civilization, Athens dates back to 5,000 BC. History shows that during the golden age, Athens was home to brilliant thinkers, philosophers, and writers including Socrates and Hippocrates.
Why Visit Here: It is worth visiting ancient Athens as it offers both Ancient Treasure and modern delights. Athens is the gateway to steep into history and great culture.
9. Songzanlin, Shangri-La, China – 1679
There is no other ancient town like this. With the largest Tibetan Buddhist Monastery in Yunnan province, Songzanlin is one of the oldest cities in the world. Built-in 1679, the monastery itself is more ancient than most towns on the list. It is surrounded by several stunning architecture and Buddhist architecture.
Why Visit Here: With various festivals and structures, it has been preserving its ancient traditions since its establishment. Horse Racing Festivals and Minority Festivals are a few major attractions of this ancient town in China.
10. Phoenix Ancient Town, China – 1704
Coming last on the list of the oldest cities in the world, this ancient town in China is famous for its glorious natural scenery and awe-inspiring Tianmen mountains. With historic architecture, ethnic languages, and custom arts – the Ming and Qing style buildings are preserved by UNESCO.
Why Visit Here: From natural sightseeing to UNESCO preserved buildings surrounded by wonderful scenery, it makes it a perfect historic town.
We hope you enjoyed our pick of the oldest cities in the world. These ancient towns and villages are popular around the world for their glorious scenery and historic architecture. Well, there are many other cities that are old yet vandalized due to civil wars. We’ll cover that in the next blog.
