12 Sites for Heritage Travel
There are a variety of reasons for why one may choose to travel: relaxation, checking off bucket list items, adventure, language learning, cuisine, art, and more. For some travelers, one of the most important parts of travel is reconnecting with human history and exploring the remains of our ancient cities and art; for those travelers, heritage (historical) tourism answers their need.
That’s not to say that these ancient sites aren’t visited by travelers who might not have the express interest in exploring ancient history. Millions of travelers each year flock to places like the Colosseum, the Acropolis, Machu Picchu, and more, as these historic sites offer breathtaking views to all tourists. That being said, below we’ve listed our top 12 destination points for the heritage traveler looking for a new site to set their eyes on:
Photo by Jannes Jacobs on Unsplash
Paleolithic & Neolithic Travel
Stonehenge, United Kingdom
Photo by Christoph Theisinger on Unsplash
This particular prehistoric site hardly needs an introduction; on Salisbury Plain in Wiltshire, England, the imposing sarsen standing stones form a ring of freestanding and linteled monoliths, orientated towards the sunrise on the summer solstice.
Though human remains have been found dating from as early as 3000 BC, the exact nature of Stonehenge has only been theorized. Regardless of whether it was originally intended as a burial ground, ritual landscape, or pilgrimage site, Stonehenge now stands as a symbol of human ingenuity and willpower. With more than 800,000 tourists visiting the site every year, this is definitely at the top of our list for ancient sites to see.
Newgrange, Ireland
This prehistoric Irish site was constructed around 3200 BC, predating both Stonehenge and the Egyptian Pyramids.
Stepping inside the largest of Newgrange’s mounds, a hush immediately falls over any visitor; walking along the slowly rising floor, the passage is dark, only lit by the day sun filtering in through the back window and any accompanying flashlights. Inside the Passage Tomb, on either side of the main aisle are two deep recesses, where enormous stone basins sit; triskelion are engraved throughout the structure, marking where ancient human hands once touched. No matter what time of year tourists visit (whether or not they make the solstice illumination), they are sure to have their breath taken away by this ancient site.
Çatalhöyük, Turkey
It is difficult to overstate the importance of the proto-city of Çatalhöyük. Built somewhere around 7500 BC, the construction of Çatalhöyük marked the first of many movements away from nomadism and smaller settlements to larger, communal living. In its day (and even now, looking at the remnants of the prehistoric city), Çatalhöyük would’ve been an incredible sight. Hundreds of mudbrick houses situated side by side, with citizens accessing communal buildings and neighboring houses by walking from rooftop to rooftop.
Once a flourishing proto-city composed of thousands of inhabitants only a generation or two removed from nomadism, Çatalhöyük was nearly abandoned by approximately 5700 BC. Today, it’s open to the public daily all year round.
Bronze Age Travel
Tanum Rock Carvings, Sweden
When visiting Sweden, though one might be tempted to visit such attractions such as the Vasa Museum to gaze on the salvaged warship, Gamla Stan to explore the medieval enclave, or Ales Stenar, also known as the Stonehenge of Sweden, visitors should not miss out on the Tanum Rock Carvings.
This collection of petroglyphs is situated near Tanumshede, Bohuslän, Sweden, and it comprises thousands of images painted and carved into the smooth rocks. Due to the threat of erosion from acid rain, some of the rock carvings are covered either permanently or during certain times of the year. For any travelers interested in viewing the Tanum Rock Carvings, the Vitlycke Museum offers self-guided tours where tourists can view approximately 600 rock-carving sites.
Akrotiri, Greece
This story is similar to that of Pompeii, but predates it by several thousand years: located on the volcanic Greek island of Santorini, Akrotiri was a Cycladic Bronze Age settlement, preserved after being buried in volcanic ash after the 1600 BCE Theran eruption.
Set in a big, light and airy building, the city of Akrotiri is open to the public; long ramps guide visitors through the ancient ruins, allowing tourists to see the remnants of ancient life, like a Minoan bathtub or painted frescoes. The site has a sense of lightness, accentuated by the white stone of the rubble, but the reality of the city’s last days is apparent no matter where you look.
Petra, Jordan
Photo by Alex Vasey on Unsplash
The entrances to Petra in southern Jordan resemble something out of a fantasy novel: towering entryways carved into the mountainsides, the columns, lintels, and doorways a red-brown chiaroscuro. From the mountaintops, the rocks below ripple with different strata, younger strata slide over older ones.
The rock facades are monumental, dwarfing anyone intrigued enough to venture close. For those that choose to venture into its depths, the Amphitheater, Colonnaded Street, Qasr al-Bint and Royal Tombs await their discovery. As Petra stretches over 60 square kilometers, prepare for lots of walking, but know that regardless of how much you see, you’ll surely leave with memories to last years to come.
Classical Antiquity Travel
Pompeii, Italy
The fate of the ancient city of Pompeii is a familiar story. In the autumn of 79 AD, Mount Vesuvius, an active volcano located to the northwest of the ancient Roman city, erupted, spewing molten rock, pumice, and ash over the region. Both Pompeii and the nearby city of Herculaneum were covered over the course of two days, forcing many citizens to flee with their families, while many more were trapped, perishing from the hot ashes and toxic gas.
Pompeii’s identity is preserved in its streets and alleyways - graffiti decorates the walls, from elaborate love poetry to dialogues between different individuals to bawdy jokes and insults. The city, preserved in active movement, still evokes laughter and joy out of its visitors even thousands of years later.
Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor, China
Photo by Aaron Greenwood on Unsplash
The Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor is the tomb of Emperor Qin Shi Huang, constructed over a period of 38 years in the Lintong District, Xi'an, Shaanxi province of China. Hidden beneath a 76-meter-tall tomb mound, the mausoleum contains not only the tomb of Qin Shi Huang, but also the vast underground city populated by an immense terracotta army.
The terracotta statues are imposing and haunting. Each uniquely designed, they seem lifelike, people that might’ve been petrified mid-step, but who could awaken at any moment. The individuals within the army seem to assert their own personhood and identity, even ensconced in stone. Plan to visit for anywhere between two to three hours in order to fully immerse yourself in the story of the terracotta army.
Sigiriya, Sri Lanka
The ascent up the side of the fortress, known as the Lion Gate, a moniker given to the stairs because of the lion paws carved into the base of the fortress, appears steep and treacherous at first glance. At the top lies the palace of King Kashyapa. The name of the site actually comes from this structure – Sīnhāgiri, the Lion Rock.
The site plan of Sigiriya is elaborate and complex, blending man-made elements into the natural formation of the rock. Along the walls of the rock fortress are poems and frescoes, the entire complex a living, breathing piece of art; alongside being a feat of engineering, urban planning, and horticulture (Sigiriya contains some of the oldest landscaped gardens in the world), Sigiriya speaks to the human desire to find and bring beauty into our world and living spaces.
Medieval Travel
Angkor Wat, Cambodia
This Buddhist temple complex in northwest Cambodia, once erroneously considered a lost city by French explorers, has been a sacred site of Cambodian Buddhism for nearly a millennium. Just north of the modern town of Siem Reap, Angkor Wat is composed of a series of temples, with a quinque of four towers standing in the center of the temple.
The population size slowly shrunk over the course of several decades due to a combination of political movements and environmental factors due to the droughts and floods caused by the irrigation system. Since the 16th century, it has continued to be a pilgrimage destination point, and archeologists also believe that there may have been attempts to reinhabit Angkor at various points since its abandonment.
Cahokia, United States
In south-western Illinois between East St. Louis and Collinsville, a series of tiered earthen mounds sit directly across from the Mississippi river; now covered in a fine layer of lush, green grass that might cause one to miss how densely populated this city once was, Cahokia was once larger than London (circa 1250 AD).
Cahokia is considered one of the most complex and influential urban settlements in North America, regularly inhabited for over four centuries. At its peak, the city covered about six square miles with anywhere between 14,000–18,000 citizens living communally.
With self-guided and guided tours, visitors can explore the ancient Mississippian culture and learn more about the life of a citizen of Cahokia.
Great Zimbabwe, Zimbabwe
The medieval city of Great Zimbabwe sits in the south-eastern hills of Zimbabwe near Lake Mutirikwe. Famed for its ingenious urban planning and its imposing structure of concentric circles, the city is now regularly visited by thousands of tourists every year. So much of this immense city still exists that it’s almost easy to imagine what it must’ve been like to live there less than a millennium ago.
Archeologists and historians believe that the purpose of Great Zimbabwe was primarily religious and political rather than fortification - as a tribute to its rulers. Today, tourists visiting Zimbabwe can easily access the Great Zimbabwe Ruins and explore its incredible history.
For travelers who might only be able to visit a handful of these sites during their lifetime, worry not. We, fortunately, live in a time where distance doesn’t have to equal defeat; Archeology Travel, an online travel guide devoted to important archeological and historical sites, allows travelers to explore ancient ruins and more contemporary pasts from the comfort of their living room.
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If we’ve inspired you to plan your next heritage trip, get some further inspiration by perusing two sample itineraries we’ve put together just for you. Plus, start your free trial with Umapped today to start putting together heritage trips for your clients!
