38 Ancient Roman Monuments
The ancient Romans were some of the most skilled and prolific builders in history. They left an indelible mark on the world with their impressive architecture, which is still admired and studied today. Some of the most famous ancient Roman monuments include the Colosseum, the Pantheon, and the Roman Forum.
But there are many other ancient Roman monuments that are just as impressive, if not more so. Here is a list of 38 of the most fascinating ancient Roman monuments from around the world:
- The Colosseum (Rome, Italy)
The Colosseum is one of the most iconic ancient Roman monuments in the world. It was built in 80 AD and was used for gladiatorial contests and public executions. The Colosseum could seat up to 80,000 spectators and is a testament to the engineering prowess of the ancient Romans.
- The Pantheon (Rome, Italy)
The Pantheon is a temple dedicated to all of the gods of ancient Rome. It was built in 125 AD and is famous for its massive dome, which is still the largest unreinforced concrete dome in the world. The Pantheon is a masterpiece of architecture and is considered to be one of the most important buildings in Roman history.
- The Roman Forum (Rome, Italy)
The Roman Forum was the heart of ancient Rome. It was a political and commercial center and was home to many important temples, basilicas, and government buildings. The Roman Forum is now in ruins, but it is still a fascinating place to visit and imagine what it was like to be a citizen of ancient Rome.
- Pompeii (Pompeii, Italy)
Pompeii was a Roman city that was buried by a volcanic eruption in 79 AD. The city has been preserved remarkably well and is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Pompeii is a fascinating place to visit and learn about how people lived in ancient Rome.
- Herculaneum (Herculaneum, Italy)
Herculaneum was another Roman city that was buried by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD. Herculaneum was a much richer city than Pompeii and is home to many beautiful villas and works of art. Herculaneum is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
- The Baths of Caracalla (Rome, Italy)
The Baths of Caracalla were one of the largest and most luxurious public baths in ancient Rome. They were built in 216 AD and could accommodate up to 1,600 people. The baths were a popular place for socializing and relaxing and were home to a variety of amenities, including pools, saunas, and massage rooms.
- The Pont du Gard (Gard, France)
The Pont du Gard is a Roman aqueduct that was built in 19 BC. It is one of the most impressive aqueducts in the world and is still in use today. The Pont du Gard is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
- The Great Theatre of Aspendos (Aspendos, Turkey)
The Great Theatre of Aspendos is a Roman theater that was built in the 2nd century AD. It is one of the best-preserved Roman theaters in the world and is still used for performances today. The Great Theatre of Aspendos is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
- The Jerash Ruins (Jerash, Jordan)
The Jerash Ruins are a Roman city that was founded in the 2nd century BC. It is one of the largest and most well-preserved Roman cities in the Middle East. The Jerash Ruins are home to a variety of temples, theaters, and colonnades and are a popular tourist destination.
- The Baalbek Ruins (Baalbek, Lebanon)
The Baalbek Ruins are a Roman temple complex that was built in the 1st century AD. It is one of the most impressive and well-preserved Roman temple complexes in the world. The Baalbek Ruins are home to a variety of temples, including the Temple of Jupiter, the Temple of Bacchus, and the Temple of Venus.
11.The Amphitheatre of El Jem (El Jem, Tunisia)
The Amphitheatre of El Jem is a Roman amphitheater that was built in the 3rd century AD. It is one of the largest and best-preserved amphitheaters in the world and is a popular tourist destination. The Amphitheatre of El Jem could seat up to 30,000 spectators and was used for gladiatorial contests and other public events.
12.The Mausoleum of Hadrian (Rome, Italy)
The Mausoleum of Hadrian is a Roman tomb that was built in the 2nd century AD. It is one of the most iconic monuments in Rome and is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Mausoleum of Hadrian was originally used as a burial place for the Emperor Hadrian and his family, but it was later converted into a fortress and a church.
13. The Arch of Constantine (Rome, Italy)
The Arch of Constantine is a triumphal arch that was built in the 4th century AD. It is one of the most impressive arches in Rome and is a popular tourist destination. The Arch of Constantine was built to commemorate the victories of the Emperor Constantine over Maxentius at the Battle of Milvian Bridge.
14.The Diocletian’s Palace (Split, Croatia)
Diocletian’s Palace is a large palace complex that was built in the 4th century AD by the Emperor Diocletian. It is one of the largest and most well-preserved Roman palaces in the world and is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Diocletian’s Palace was originally used as a retirement home for the emperor, but it later became a fortified city.
15.The Aqua Claudia (Rome, Italy)
The Aqua Claudia is a Roman aqueduct that was built in the 1st century AD. It is one of the most important aqueducts in Rome and is still in use today. The Aqua Claudia brought water from the springs of the Aniene River to Rome and was one of the most complex and impressive engineering projects of the ancient world.
16.The Travertine Bridge (Rome, Italy)
The Travertine Bridge is a Roman bridge that was built in the 1st century AD. It is one of the most iconic bridges in Rome and is a popular tourist destination. The Travertine Bridge was built across the Tiber River and is made of travertine, a type of limestone that is found in the area around Rome.
17. The Severan Baths (Leptis Magna, Libya)
The Severan Baths are a Roman bath complex that was built in the 2nd century AD. They are one of the most well-preserved bath complexes in the world and are a popular tourist destination. The Severan Baths were built by the Emperor Septimius Severus and his sons and were one of the largest and most luxurious bath complexes in the Roman Empire.
18 The Walls of Jerusalem (Jerusalem, Israel)
The Walls of Jerusalem are a series of fortifications that were built around the Old City of Jerusalem. They are one of the most iconic landmarks in Jerusalem and are a popular tourist destination. The Walls of Jerusalem were built in the 16th century by the Ottoman Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent and are considered to be one of the most impressive fortifications in the world.
19The Walls of Jerusalem (Jerusalem, Israel)
The Church of the Holy Sepulchre is a church that was built in the 4th century AD. It is one of the holiest sites in Christianity and is a popular destination for pilgrims from all over the world. The Church of the Holy Sepulchre is believed to be the site of Jesus Christ’s crucifixion, burial, and resurrection.
20.The Catacombs of Rome (Rome, Italy)
The Catacombs of Rome are a vast network of underground tunnels that were used as burial places for Christians in the early centuries of the Roman Empire. They are one of the most important archaeological sites in the world and are a popular tourist destination. The Catacombs of Rome contain the remains of an estimated 6 million people.
21.The Circus Maximus (Rome, Italy)
The Circus Maximus was a large chariot-racing stadium that was built in the 6th century BC. It is one of the largest sporting venues in the world and was used for chariot races, gladiatorial contests, and other public events. The Circus Maximus could seat up to 250,000 spectators.
22.The Trajan’s Column (Rome, Italy)
Trajan’s Column is a spiral fluted column that was built in the 1st century AD to commemorate the victories of the Emperor Trajan over the Dacians. It is one of the most iconic monuments in Rome and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Trajan’s Column is 125 feet tall and is decorated with a spiral relief that depicts the emperor’s victories in battle.
23.The Aurelian Walls (Rome, Italy)
The Aurelian Walls are a series of fortifications that were built around the city of Rome in the 3rd century AD. They are one of the most impressive defenses in the world and were designed to protect Rome from invasion. The Aurelian Walls are 14 miles long and have 383 towers.
24.The Baths of Diocletian (Rome, Italy)
The Baths of Diocletian were one of the largest and most luxurious public baths in ancient Rome. They were built in the 3rd century AD and could accommodate up to 3,000 people. The baths were a popular place for socializing and relaxing and were home to a variety of amenities, including pools, saunas, and massage rooms.
25.The Porta Maggiore (Rome, Italy)
The Porta Maggiore is a triumphal arch that was built in the 1st century AD. It is one of the most impressive arches in Rome and is a popular tourist destination. The Porta Maggiore was built to commemorate the construction of the Appian Way and is decorated with sculptures of the god Jupiter and the goddess Juno.
26.The Severan Bridge (Rome, Italy)
The Severan Bridge is a Roman bridge that was built in the 2nd century AD. It is one of the most iconic bridges in Rome and is a popular tourist destination. The Severan Bridge was built across the Tiber River and is made of travertine, a type of limestone that is found in the area around Rome.
27.The Hadrian’s Villa (Tivoli, Italy)
Hadrian’s Villa is a large and complex palace complex that was built in the 2nd century AD by the Emperor Hadrian. It is one of the most impressive architectural complexes in the world and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Hadrian’s Villa was originally used as a retirement home for the emperor, but it later became a center for art, culture, and learning.
28.The Circus of Orange (Orange, France)
The Circus of Orange is a large chariot-racing stadium that was built in the 1st century AD. It is one of the best-preserved Roman circuses in the world and is a popular tourist destination. The Circus of Orange could seat up to 20,000 spectators.
29. The Pont du Gard (Gard, France)
The Pont du Gard is a large aqueduct that was built in the 1st century AD. It is one of the most impressive aqueducts in the world and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Pont du Gard is 560 feet long and 164 feet tall and is made of limestone and marble.
30.The Maison Carrée (Nîmes, France)
The Maison Carrée is a Roman temple that was built in the 1st century AD. It is one of the best-preserved Roman temples in the world and is a popular tourist destination. The Maison Carrée
31.The Triumphal Arch of Orange (Orange, France)
The Triumphal Arch of Orange is a triumphal arch that was built in the 1st century AD. It is one of the most impressive arch in France and is a popular tourist destination. The Arch of Orange was built to commemorate the victories of the Emperor Tiberius over the Germanic tribes.
32.The Arles Amphitheatre (Arles, France)
The Arles Amphitheatre is an ancient Roman amphitheatre in the city of Arles in Provence, France. It was built in the first century AD by the Roman emperor Claude. It was originally used for gladiatorial contests and public spectacles, but it was later used as a fortress and a Christian church.
33.The Amphitheatre of Nimes (Nîmes, France)
The Arenes de Nimes is an amphitheater in Nîmes, France. It is one of the best-preserved Roman amphitheaters in the world. It is 133 meters (436 feet) long and 101 meters (331 feet) wide. The amphitheater could seat up to 24,000 spectators.
34.The Pont Saint-Bénézet (Avignon, France)
The Pont Saint-Bénézet, also known as the Pont-Neuf, is a medieval aqueduct bridge over the Rhône River in Avignon, France. Construction began in 1171 and was completed in 1669, though the original seven spans were completed in 1185.
35.The Palais des Papes (Avignon, France)
The Palais des Papes is a medieval palace complex in Avignon, France. It is the largest Gothic palace in the world. It was the seat of the papacy from 1309 to 1377.
36.The Cathédrale Notre-Dame des Doms (Avignon, France)
The Cathedral of Notre-Dame des Doms is a Catholic cathedral in Avignon, France. It was built in the 12th century and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
37. The Church of St-Trophime (Arles, France)
The Church of St-Trophime is a Romanesque church in Arles, France. It was built in the 12th and 13th centuries and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
38. The Abbey of Montmajour (Arles, France)
The Abbey of Montmajour is a Benedictine abbey in the Camargue, France. It was founded in the 5th century and is one of the most important monastic sites in France.
These 38 ancient monuments are just a small sample of the rich architectural heritage of the Roman Empire. These monuments stand as a testament to the ingenuity, engineering prowess, and cultural influence of the ancient Romans. They have withstood centuries of weathering and change, and continue to inspire awe and wonder in visitors from around the world.