Lost Cities Around The World

Lost Cities. Image: Gonzalo Kenny, Unsplash.
Lost Cities. Image: Gonzalo Kenny, Unsplash.

Throughout history, several cities have been destroyed or abandoned. There are many reasons why a city stagnates, especially mass migration caused by wars, famines or political instability. Do you know which are the most interesting lost cities in the world to visit?

Here we separate some of the main ones around the world. Check out!

Most Interesting Lost Cities to Visit

These are the lost cities that you must include in your travel list:

  • Petra;
  • Machu Pichu;
  • Palenque;
  • Angkor Wat.

Petra

Petra. Image: Alex Vasey, Unsplash.
Petra. Image: Alex Vasey, Unsplash.

The city served as a veritable fortress, protecting Arab merchants from the ancient kingdom of Jordan from thieves and invaders. These merchants were of essential importance for trade, as they exchanged between eastern and western products, acting as mediators of routes unknown to Europeans.

The first tip is the village of Wadi Musa (Valley of Moses), one of the best known postcards of the entire Middle East. This Bedouin camp is installed in the Aqaba desert and has great visibility (from its top, it is possible to see Saudi Arabia!). Be sure to visit the archaeological site of the Tomb of the Serpent and Tomb of the Obelisk.

Machu Pichu

Machu Pichu. Image: Gabriel Rojas, Unsplash.
Machu Pichu. Image: Gabriel Rojas, Unsplash.

Machu Picchu is undoubtedly the main attraction in Peru. It is also known as the “Lost City of the Incas”. This is because the city was only discovered in the early 20th century. When it was discovered, the city was already abandoned, but with its buildings well preserved.

Machu Picchu was introduced to the world at the beginning of the 20th century, thanks to the Yale University tour of the mountainous regions of Peru. In search of Inca cities, the North American historian and archaeologist Hiram Bingham, professor at Yale, ended up finding the city of Machu Picchu.

So, the great thing is to tour the city and observe the stone constructions and the logic of building the city on a steep terrain using plators. It’s the kind of trip you should take before you die. Therefore, it is a must visit for anyone who knows Peru!

Palenque

Palenque. Image: Crisoforo Gaspar Hernandez.
Palenque. Image: Crisoforo Gaspar Hernandez.

Palenque is an archaeological site located in the Mexican state of Chiapas. This site has some of the finest examples of Mayan art and architecture. The ruins of the site gather around 500 buildings, in an area of ​​more than 15 km.

In this way, the site impresses with the grandeur of the monuments and complex building systems. It is worth noting that the Mayans no longer existed during the Spanish invasion. Thus, the discovery of this archaeological site was fundamental to create hypotheses and theories about this important pre-Columbian civilization.

The discovery of Palenque happened by chance, when Spaniards went to the interior of the country in search of wood like cedar. When exploring the region, they noticed that the woods were on old buildings.

Angkor

Angkor. Image: Vicky T, Unsplash.
Angkor. Image: Vicky T, Unsplash.

This lost city was the capital of the mighty Khmer Empire, one of the most important in the history of Southeast Asia. He reigned between the 9th and 15th centuries. In this way, for those who like history, knowing this city is essential to understand a little more about the history of Southeast Asia.

In addition, it has an important temple: Angkor Wat. The temple is one of the symbols of Cambodia and also one of the greatest religious monuments in the world.

Therefore, there are several lost cities scattered around the world. Although they are in ruins, they help to explain an often glorious past. Visiting them is important for us to be aware of the inexorable power of time and understand how we came and reflect on our role in the world. And you, what are you waiting for to discover this magical places?

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