Talk about the now lost great cities that are still available to visit.
The most amazing lost cities in the world
War, weather, space intervention, or just the occasion when a goal is achieved… Nothing lasts forever. Here are some of the world's most intriguing lost cities, towns and settlements.
1. Palenque, Mexico
Palenque, located at the foot of the Chiapas Mountains in southwestern Mexico, is a real treasure for archaeologists. The city appears to have existed since at least 100 BC. Five hundred years later, it became a major settlement of the classical Mayan civilization, about which myths and legends circulated: child kings, invasions, beheadings, court intrigues, and, finally, an abandoned city. The climate in Palenque is jungle so prepare accordingly – bring sunscreen, insect repellent and plenty of water.
2. Babylon, Iraq
Babylon, located in what is now Iraq, was settled around 2500 BC. It became a major center of the Mesopotamian world 500 years later, when Hammurabi, the first king of the Babylonian Empire, made it his capital. In the VI century BC. it was destroyed by the Assyrians, and in the II century BC, after the death of Alexander the Great, it remained in ruins. The ruins of Babylon evoke images of the biblical past, including the great Tower of Babel and beautiful hanging gardens. There's also a disco song that you can't get out of your head… The city is about 85 km south of Baghdad.
3. Angkor, Cambodia
Collapsing stone temples in the pythonic jungle lianas, the flickering of turmeric-colored robes disappearing into the alcoves of ancient temples. A lot of tourists come to Angkor in Cambodia, but thanks to its size, you can easily find a place where you can get lost in the distant past. The city was huge: according to new research, its area was more than 3000 square meters. To). Built by a succession of Khmer god-kings between 900 and 1200 BC. AD, it had about a million inhabitants and was the capital of the Khmer Empire. There is speculation that climate change (affecting the water supply) caused the city to be abandoned about 500 years ago. Angkor is located 20 minutes north of Siem Reap. Guided and self-guided tours can be easily arranged on site.
4. Dunwich, England
Dunwich, in present-day Suffolk, was a city of glory, a major seaport and one of the largest cities of medieval Britain, said to be the capital of East Anglia, but it was all built on sand. At the end of the 13th century, a storm broke out that destroyed most of the city. The erosion of the coastline took its toll, and before you could say “cursed city,” only a few cottages remained of it (actually, it took several hundred years for the city to sink into the ocean). Stories of haunted beaches are plentiful, and at low tide you can hear the muffled ringing of church bells under the waves. The Dunwich Museum has a scale replica of the city in its heyday, without coastal erosion.
5. Herculaneum, Italy
Like nearby Pompeii, Herculaneum was destroyed by Vesuvian lava and ash in 79 AD. The upper-class city, where members of the imperial family lived, was discovered about 300 years ago and remains a treasure for archaeologists. The pyroclastic flow that engulfed the city carbonized organic matter, preserving buildings and human bodies. But what attracts the most attention are the hundreds of scrolls found in the Villa dei Papiri, texts from the only ancient library that has survived to this day. The city can be reached from Naples with the Circumvesuviana train in 25 minutes. One day is allotted for visiting this place.