2023 is already promising to be an exciting year for the travel industry. Many travelers will definitely continue their quest to recover all the travel time that was lost during the isolating period of the pandemic. To kick off the new year excitingly, history travel is a great thing to consider. With so many historic destinations around the world waiting to be explored, there are so many discoveries this travel category promises. For history lovers and general travelers, here are some educating, inspiring, and eye-opening historic destinations worth visiting in 2023.
10/10 Petra, Jordan
Petra is not just the most visited place in Jordan for nothing. This impressive city built into red rocks in a desert area was actually a great ancient city built by the Nabataeans. It was positioned at a strategic crossroad between Arabia, Egypt, Phoenicia, and Syria. At its peak, Petra hosted 20,000 inhabitants, and their main business was incense trading. Today people come from all over the world to witness the impressive architecture of the rock-cut city and the mountains and gorges that surround it.
9/10 The Acropolis Of Athens, Greece
All travelers and believers in democracy, freedom of speech and expression, and philosophy must visit the Acropolis of Athens at least once, for it was on that hill that all the amazing attributes of a free society began. The ancient citadel and the many buildings on it were established in the fifth century BC and even though the buildings now largely lie in ruins, they are still tangible evidence of the great civilization of old that occupied this land. Besides the history one will witness here, the elevated spot of the citadel also promises visitors the best views of the city of Athens.
8/10 Thermopylae, Greece
One can imagine the endless clash of swords and the sounds of arrows cutting through the air at this historic site in Greece. This site is probably the place where the sun witnessed the most iconic displays of bravery. If only the earth and rocks could speak, there would have been so much to hear about this battleground where the Greek forces led by Leonidas – the Spartan King, stood their ground against the reckless invasion of Xerxes I and his Persian army. This mountain pass on the east coast of Central Greece is a great place to draw inspiration and just reminisce on that particular battle which was basically fought for freedom and democracy.
7/10 The Great Pyramid Of Giza, Egypt
There are so many reasons why this site in Egypt is worth visiting over and over again. Standing at the foot of the enormous structures, one can’t help but imagine how those ancient Egyptians pulled off such an architectural feat. While the structure and size are also impressive, it is also awe-inspiring to imagine how this structure has managed to stand for more than 4,500 years since it was first built in 2570 BC. The fact that the pyramid is the oldest and the only surviving of the seven wonders of the world is more reason one must never get tired of visiting it.
6/10 Grand Canyon, United States
Man’s history is interesting, but the earth’s history is also a fascinating thing to experience. With an approximate age of 5 million years, there’s no better place to learn about geological history than this very place in Arizona. The Canyon stretches for 277 miles, and the legendary Colorado River flows through it, revealing billions of years of the earth’s geological history.
5/10 Gobekli Tepe, Turkey
Located in modern-day Turkey, Gobekli Tepe is recognized as the oldest Megalith in the world, having been established between 9,500 and 8,000 BC. That’s more than 10,000 years ago, making it the oldest place of worship in the world. Such a site holds an abundance of knowledge of the ancient world, which is why new things are being discovered there frequently.
4/10 Colosseum, Italy
The ancient world was known to be a time of numerous wars and bloodshed. But while most ancient civilizations only fought to defend against or attack enemies, the Romans chose to take a step further to build a mighty amphitheater where they would entertain themselves with reckless games that led to frequent bloodshed. This amphitheater is now one of the most visited attractions in Italy, and it’s worth visiting for history lovers. While the structure is impressive and historic, it’s still difficult to decide if all that happened in the building were shows of bravery or just displays of unnecessary recklessness.
3/10 The British Museum, United Kingdom
It may take several weeks or months, or even years, to fully explore the abundant history that lives in the British Museum, but it’s definitely worth it. With an estimated collection of 8 million objects spanning over two million years of human history and culture, this museum is a history lover’s paradise. The British Museum hosts the Rosetta Stone, Egyptian Mummies, Parthenon sculptures, and countless other artifacts.
2/10 Independence Hall, Pennsylvania, United States
On August 2, 1776, at Independence Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the Declaration of Independence, which birthed the United States of America, was signed. The US Constitution was also signed here, and this makes it one of the most historical places worth visiting in the United States.
1/10 Louvre Museum, France
With an area of approximately 73,000 square meters, the Louvre Museum is the largest and most visited museum in the world. For those not convinced by those facts, perhaps the museum’s collection will be motivating enough. The Louvre Museum hosts a wide variety of artworks that cannot be found anywhere else in the world. Some of the most popular include – the Mona Lisa, Venus de Milo, the raft of Medusa, and Aphrodite of Milos.
