From ancient temples and town walls to amphitheatres and aqueducts, you could spend a lifetime exploring the best Roman monuments in Europe. I know, as I have done so!
Rome, the heart of the Empire, has an astounding wealth of places to see, as does Italy, with Pompeii perhaps the most remarkable Roman site of all. The Roman Empire stretched right across Europe, from the Black Sea to the Irish Sea, and the North Sea to the Mediterranean, and it’s in the distant provinces that some of the most amazing Roman sites have been preserved.
In this article I’ll show you 24 of the best Roman sites in Europe to visit. They are spread right across the continent, and range from the exceedingly obvious like the Colosseum to places like Caerwent in my native Wales, where it’s highly likely you’ll have the entire circuit of Roman town walls all to yourself. I also explain how to get to each site, and suggest possible guided tours where available.
Enjoy!
Colosseum, Rome
When Roman poet Juvenal wrote of the need to keep the people content with ‘bread and circuses’, he would almost certainly have had one place in mind above all others – the Colosseum, which at the time was Rome’s – and the Empire’s – great arena.
Retrospectively called the Flavian Amphitheatre, the Colosseum was built for popular events including gladiatorial battles (against fellow humans and wild animals), executions, dramas and re-enactments. It has had a capacity of between 50,000 and 80,000 spectators at different times in its history – that’s over three times the size of some of the other great Roman arenas I describe later in the article.
It continued to be used as a venue for these mass spectacles well into the 6th century AD. Some Christians have ascribed religious significance to the Colosseum, suggesting that it was a place of martyrdom for early Christians. If this is the case, we don’t know of any specific individual cases. A cross with an inscription commemorates those who may have been killed there.
The Colosseum has had an immense influence on subsequent architecture, and one of the best examples of this is only a few miles away. The Palazzo della Civilta del Lavoro, or ‘Square Colosseum’ in the EUR district of Rome is one of the best examples of fascist architecture in Europe.
My experience visiting the Colosseum is that I’ve got far more from it on a guided tour. I recommend this guided tour covering the Colosseum, Forum and Palatine Hill, which lasts 2 ½ hours.
See Also: 50 Famous Landmarks In Italy
Roman Forum
The Foro Romano wasn’t just the heart of Rome – it was the heart of the whole Empire.
Around 800 metres long, it sits between the Colosseum, the Capitoline Hill and the Palatine Hill, in an area with the most astonishing concentration of Roman monuments in the world.
You used to be able to walk through the site freely, but it’s now ticketed, in conjunction with the Colosseum, Palatine, or both. And you only get one walk through which, having walked up and down it numerous times, seems rather unfair. But such are the pressures of mass tourism.
Inside the Forum, there are two of the great triumphal arches of the Roman world – the Arches of Titus and Septimius Severus. There are also ruins of several temples, the best-preserved of which is the striking Temple of Saturn near the Capitoline end of the Forum. You can also see the foundations of some basilicas – these had a civic function, and the name has subsequently been used for some churches given special recognition or privileges by a Pope.
The Forum is also surrounded by later churches, including those dedicated to SS Cosmas and Damian and SS Luca and Martin the Martyrs.
It’s also well worth visiting the Museo del Foro Romano at the Colosseum end, which has an incredible collection of artefacts discovered around the Roman Forum site.
Pantheon, Rome
The Colosseum may be the most famous of all Roman monuments in Europe, but for me, the nearby Pantheon is the most inspirational. It’s the most complete Roman building to have survived the two millennia since the city and Empire’s heyday, fully intact both inside and out, and visiting it is the closest we’ll ever get to being able to step 2,000 years back in time.
The Pantheon may have been a temple dedicated to all Roman gods, some of their gods, or even simply had statues of the gods – we can’t be entirely sure. What we see today is the third building on the site, built in the 2nd century AD, possibly during the reign of Emperor Hadrian.
The temple – now a basilica church – consists of a porticoed façade, and entrance area, then a single, soaring domed cella (room) with an opening (oculus) in the roof. Rain falls inside the Pantheon, so a slightly sloping floor helps the water drain away.
This unique building became a church – Santa Maria ad Martyres, St Mary and the Martyrs. It later became the final resting place of several important figures from Italian history, including artists Raphael and Annibale Carracci, architect Baldassare Peruzzi, and modern Kings of Italy Vittorio Emanuele II, Umberto I and the latter’s Queen, Margherita of Savoy.
Tours and Tickets: You can book your ticket with an interactive audioguide app here – bear in mind you’ll need to bring headphones with you.
And if you prefer the option of a guided tour, book your tickets here .
Pompeii, Campania
The destroyed town of Pompeii is one of the most famous Roman monuments in Europe, and its tragedy one of the most widely known stories of the Ancient World. It’s somewhere I dreamt of going as a kid growing up in Wales in the ‘70s and ‘80s, and one of the most amazing places I’ve visited in my life.
Pompeii was a small provincial town, with a population probably in the region of 15,000 to 20,000. The Bay of Naples, on which it is situated, was a desirable place to live, close to the sea, and the soil around Pompeii is very fertile, ideal for agriculture. The one drawback it had was that it is located in a seismically unstable area, and close to a volcano – Vesuvius – that could erupt and cause vast damage.
When it did erupt in August of AD 79, most Pompeians managed to escape during the initial fall of lapilli – fragments of volcanic rock. However, the following stage, the rapid pyroclastic flow of hot gases and ash clouds, devastated Pompeii, most likely killing everyone (over 1,000 bodies have been found there) in its path.
The town was forgotten and wasn’t rediscovered until the 16th century. Excavations only began in the 18th century, finding a town frozen (though boiled and buried is probably a more accurate description) in time. One of the most poignant sights is the Garden of the Fugitives, where several casts of bodies lie hunched in agony, unable to escape their horrendous fate.
Some of the best-known sights in Pompeii include the main street, the Basilica, Forum and amphitheatre. And don’t miss the frescoes in the Villa dei Misteri. Excavations are ongoing, and are likely to continue for the foreseeable future. Over the last few years, several fascinating new discoveries have been made. One of the most memorable is the thermopolium (snack bar) discovered in 2020, with frescoes painted on the counter.
Tours: I went with a detailed guidebook (my treasured 30-year-old Blue Guide) and spent 5 hours exploring everything I could. If you’re pushed for time, I suggest this two-hour Pompeii tour with an archaeologist
See Also: Rome to Pompeii Day Trip –How To Plan The Perfect Day
Appian Way, Rome
Step out for a stroll on the Roman ‘Queen of Roads’
One of the Romans managed to amass such a vast Empire was their skill in building roads. In 312 BC Appius Claudius Caecus commissioned the road which took his name from Rome to Capua in Campania, to the south. It was later extended across the Italian peninsula to the port of Brindisi on the Adriatic coast, and was one of the great thoroughfares of the ancient world.
The Appian Way – Via Appia Antica – which was designated a World Heritage Site in 2024, is one of the most evocative places to visit in Rome. You can walk or cycle along the route in the south of the city for around 10 miles (16 km), passing the ruins of villas and several catacombs, where Rome’s early Christians were buried, along the way.
The most extensive of these is the Catacombe di San Callisto, where many thousands are buried including several Popes. Most of the sights are within the first four to five miles, from Porta San Sebastiano in the north to the Casal Rotondo tomb to the southeast. This makes a logical end point because it’s a mile (1.5 km) walk from there to the Torricola train station.
You can either walk or cycle along the Appian Way. Bear in mind that the Romans built cobbled streets with sizeable stones, so if you are intent on cycling, a mountain bike may be a better option – though there is also a dirt track along some stretches of the road. Even if you’re walking (a good option if you’re shooting lots of photographs as I do), I recommend wearing sturdy, possibly medium level, walking or hiking boots.
Tours: This Appian Way e-mountain bike tour is a great option, taking four or six hours, depending on whether or not you choose to visit the catacombs along the way.
Pont du Gard, France
The Pont du Gard, a 1st century AD Roman aqueduct, is one of the most famous and most beautiful bridges in France, indeed Europe.
The Romans built it to provide a regular supply to their nearby city of Nemausus (Nîmes), and it remained functional until the 5th or 6th century. It carried water across the river Gardon, which is just inside the Occitanie (also called Languedoc & Roussillon) border with Provence. Its channels eventually became blocked by debris, but it served as a toll bridge long afterwards.
It’s in a near- perfect state of preservation, and in the 18th and 19th century it became one of the most popular stops for anyone undertaking their Grand Tour of Europe.
The Pont du Gard is between the towns of Remoulins and Uzès, and one of the easier day trips from Avignon, with several buses running each way every day.
Porta Nigra, Trier, Germany
The Porta Nigra, a gateway to the northern Roman provincial capital of Augusta Treverorum, is one of the most remarkable Roman monuments in Europe.
Built in the 2nd century AD, it’s an amazing feat of construction, thousands of massive stone blocks held together without any form of mortar, just clamps. Its name means ‘Black Gate’, and it’s believed that this name originated after the Romans had departed the region.
In 1028, Poppo, the Archbishop of Trier, met a Greek hermit, Simeon, on a pilgrimage to Jerusalem. Simeon eventually accompanied Poppo back to Trier, and was given a room in one of the upper storeys of the Porta Nigra. After his death miracles were reported and attributed to him, and he was canonized St Simeon of Trier.
The Porta Nigra was converted into a two-storey church, and a monastery dedicated to him – the Simeonstift – was founded next to the gateway. The church within the Porta Nigra was dismantled by Napoleon Bonaparte’s forces in the early 19th century.
Porta Nigra is part of the Trier World Heritage Site, which also includes several other Roman sites, including an amphitheatre and some impressive Roman bath complexes. I also recommend visiting magnificent Trier Cathedral and the neighbouring Gothic Liebfrauenklirche.
For more information, take a look at my article on the best Things To Do In Trier.
Arles Amphitheatre
Les Arènes d’Arles – Arles’ Roman amphitheatre – is one of the great Roman arenas of Europe.
Built around 90 AD, it was built to host gladiatorial fights and chariot races, with around 20,000 spectators from the city (Arelate in Latin) and around. It has changed little in almost two millennia, and still used for events to this day. These range from concerts to Provençal bullfighting. The name is a little misleading, as it’s more of a run than a fight, with razeteurs using a hook to try to pull a rosette or ribbon from the bull’s horns.
The amphitheatre is part of a World Heritage Site covering other Roman sites in the city, and a stunning Romanesque church, St-Trophime. The scant remains of the Théâtre Antique are a few minutes’ walk from the Arènes, and it still makes a wonderful setting for open air plays on summer evenings.
The other significant Roman site in Arles is Les Alyscamps, a Roman necropolis with many tombs of wealthy citizens. The site was also later used by Christians, and was the original burial site of the first bishop of Arles, St Trophimus (after whom the nearby church is named).
See Also: One Day In Arles – The Ideal Itinerary
Maison Carrée Nîmes
The Maison Carrée in Nîmes is one of the most iconic Roman monuments in Europe. Its name means ‘square house’ in French – the building is rectangular, but the cella room within the temple is close to square in shape.
It is believed to have been built around 4 to 7 AD, and was initially dedicated to grandsons of the first Roman Emperor, Caesar Augustus, Lucius and Gaius Caesar, who died in childhood. It was the main building in the forum of the provincial city of Nemausus, and like other similar buildings of the era helped propagate the cult of the Emperor, who would become a god after his death.
![image of maison carree at night ]nimes france](https://delveintoeurope.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/roman-sites-in-france-maison-carree.jpg)
The Maison Carrée was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2023. The city also has many other Roman sites, most notably the Roman Amphitheatre (Les Arènes), a 5-minute walk from the Maison Carrée. It’s one of the largest to have survived from the Roman period, and once had a capacity of up to 24,000 spectators. Like the amphitheatre in Arles, it hosted gladiatorial contests including gruesome fights to the death with wild animals.
Parts of the city walls have also survived, including the Tour Magne (now a lookout tower) to the north of the centre, and the Porte d’Auguste, to the east. There is also a fine temple dedicated to Diana in the park below the Tour Magne.
Tours: This excellent tour from Avignon covers both main Roman sites in Nîmes, the Pont du Gard and the two Roman sites in Orange.
Théâtre Antique and Arc de Triomphe, Orange
The provincial town of Orange, half an hour to the north of Avignon, is home to two of the outstanding Roman monuments of Europe. Both were built in the early 1st century AD, at a time when the Pax Romana – Roman Peace – had been established under the rule of the first Emperor, Caesar Augustus.
Orange’s Théâtre Antique (Ancient Theatre)is perhaps the most intact and best preserved theatre in the entire ancient world. Its vast curtain wall is 103 metres long and 37 metres high, and is quite sparsely decorated save for a statue of Caesar Augustus himself. Nowadays it’s used to stage operas and concerts, including the summer Choregies festival.
You can order your Ancient Theatre ticket here.
The other main sight in Orange is the stunning Arc de Triomphe (triumphal arch), a 10-15 minute walk from the Theatre, to the north of the historic centre of Orange. Later arches built to the same design include the Arch of Constantine, outside the Colosseum in Rome. Some of the bas-reliefs depict battle scenes, most likely of Roman forces inflicting defeat on European tribes. It has been suggested that these may have been Germanic tribes, which may well be the case.
Les Antiques, Glanum, St Remy de Provence
Glanum was originally a Celtic town named after the god Glanis, which, after three defeats, was eventually subjugated by the Romans under Julius Caesar in 49 BC. The city was rebuilt during the reign of Caesar Augustus (31 BC to 14 AD) and afterwards.
The two most impressive monuments in Glanum stand by the side of the D5 road on the outskirts of the country town of Saint-Rémy-de Provence, a short distance away from the rest of the ruins of town. They are widely known as Les Antiques, and consist of a triumphal arch and mausoleum.
The arch was probably built towards the end of the reign of Caesar Augustus, and the bas-reliefs on it depict Roman military successes (an alternative way of putting it would be massacres). The stonework at the top of the arch was most likely used as building material by locals.
A few metres away, the Mausoleum of the Julii is an earlier construction, possibly as early as 40 BC. It commemorates the parents of three brothers (Sextius, Marcius and Lucius Julius), a prominent family believed to have originally been from Rome.
The ruins of the rest of Glanum aren’t as substantial as Les Antiques, but are nonetheless well worth seeing. The remains of the town include temples, houses, a sacred spring and well. Admission to the site costs €9 for adults, but you can see Les Antiques for free.
The Monastery of Saint-Paul-de-Mausole, where artist Vincent van Gogh lived as a patient from 1889 to1890, is very close to the Glanum site. He lived there for a year, and produced some of his best-known works there, including Starry Night and Olive Trees With The Alpilles In The Background.
The D5 road south of Saint-Remy follows the route of the Via Domitia, the first major road in the Roman province of Gallia Narbonensis. It crosses the Alpilles hills before reaching Les Baux de Provence, one of the most beautiful villages in France.
Roman Baths, Bath
Bath’s Roman Baths were built in the 1st century AD around springs that had long been used by the local Celtic population. These springs were dedicated to the Celtic goddess Sulis (who bore some similarities with the Roman goddess Minerva), and the hot waters were incorporated into the new Roman complex, with a hot pool and heated area as well as warm and cold-water pools.
The steaming hot water pool is the highlight of the visit, which also includes a wonderful range of exhibits excavated at the Baths. One of the most remarkable exhibits is the series of over 100 curse tablets.
These are inscriptions on small tablets addressed to Sulis Minerva, requesting the return of stolen goods and (generally) asking the goddess to wreak misfortune on whoever was responsible for the theft. These curses give us a great insight into the everyday Latin speech of people in the area – a unique record across the Roman Empire.
If you’re visiting towards the end of the day – especially in winter – the Great Bath is a stunning sight with steam rising off the water, fire torches lit around the sides, and Bath Abbey looming above. It’s one of the best views in England.
For tickets to the Roman Baths with an audio guide, click here.
See Also: One Day In Bath and 12 Famous Landmarks In Bath
Hadrian’s Wall, England
Hadrian’s Wall, which crosses northern England from the Irish Sea to the North Sea, is by far the largest of the Roman monuments in Europe that I describe in this article. It’s an amazing 73 miles(117 km) long, and was fortified with a series of milecastles and turrets along its length. It’s believed that up to 10,000 Roman soldiers manned the Wall at any one time.
The Wall, commissioned by Emperor Hadrian, was built between 122 and 128 AD. It was built to defend the Empire’s northern border, where the Picts were perceived to be a threat. Most of it was built with limestone, although some sections were initially constructed from timber or turf, depending on what materials were available locally. Some parts of the Wall have been removed – mostly by locals using the stones for building materials.
Driving is the easiest way to visit Hadrian’s Wall, and cycling is another great option. The AD122 bus service between Hexham and Haltwhistle is brilliant, as it covers three of the main forts along the Wall, at Chesters, Housesteads and Vindolanda.
Tours: This 4-hour Hadrian’s Wall guided tour is a great introduction to this amazing monument.
See Also: 50 Famous UK Landmarks Not To Miss
Chester City Walls and Shrine of Minerva, England
Chester – known at the time as Deva Victrix – was one of the most important Roman garrisons in Britain. Its Welsh name is Caer, which means ‘fort’. And around 100 AD they set about building a town wall to protect the garrison.
The Romans never quite completed a circuit of what is now Chester city centre. The formidable sandstone walls which they built – which it is believed took the best part of a century – were in use around 800 years later, and the walls were strengthened and added to during the Middle Ages. They saw military action in 1647, towards the end of the English Civil War.
The wall circuit is 1.8 miles (2.9 km) long, although the northern part of the circuit (around Morgan’s Mount) has been closed for some years. The best section of the Wall walk is the eastern side, which passes Chester Cathedral and then underneath the landmark Eastgate Clock before continuing to the River Dee. Along this section you pass the remains of Chester’s Roman amphitheatre, and the Roman Gardens, which also have some ancient remnants worth a few minutes’ look.
While at the river, it’s well worth the short walk across the beautiful Old Dee Bridge to Handbridge, Turn right into Edgar’s Field Park, and you’ll soon reach the Shrine to the goddess of war Minerva. It’s the only intact, in situ Roman shrine in Britain.
Tours: Walking is by far the best way to see Chester, and this guided walking tour covers the main sights, including part of the Roman Walls.
See Also: 21 Best Things To Do In Chester
Roman Temple of Diana, Évora, Portugal
Few Roman monuments in Europe have as remarkable an after-story as Évora’s Templo de Diana.
The Temple was built in the1st or 2nd century AD, and is one of the finest Roman monuments on the Iberian peninsula. It has long been called the Temple of Diana, one of the principal Roman deities, but we don’t know for sure whether or not it was really dedicated to her. What we do know is that its Corinthian-style columns and capitals are wonderfully preserved.
Much of the Temple was destroyed in the 5th century, and several hundred years later, its ruins underwent a most unusual disappearing act. The columns were incorporated into a new building – either an abattoir, a butcher’s shop, or a combination of the two. The Temple remained preserved this way until 1836, This and another adjacent building were eventually knocked down, and the Temple was gradually restored thereafter.
Évora is one of my favourite cities in Europe, and one of the best day trips from Lisbon. On this Évora and Monsaraz tour you get to spend a few hours in Évora, visit the stunning hilltop border village of Monsaraz and sample some local wines.
See Also: 11 Best Things To Do In Évora and The Best Portugal Road Trip – The Alentejo
Roman Theatre, Mérida, Spain
Spain’s western border province of Extremadura is one of the best unexplored regions in Europe to discover. This barren, sun-baked backwater was the home of several Spanish conquistadors, seafarers who sailed west and subdued civilisations to build the new Spanish empire. It’s a land of formidable stone castles, whitewashed villages and the ancient capital of the far-flung Roman province of Lusitania, the city of Mérida.
Originally called Emerita Augusta, Roman Mérida is beautifully preserved. After Orange, it has the most impressive Roman theatre in Europe, though I have to say that I find Mérida’s more elegant.
It was built on the orders of Roman military leader Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa around 15 or 15 BC – you may recognise his name from the portico of the Pantheon in Rome, the original of which he also commissioned. The stage features several figures of Roman gods, and the theatre had a capacity of 6,000 spectators.
Mérida has numerous other Roman remains and ruins. The finest of these is the Temple of Diana, but also make time to see the Roman bridge over the Albarregas river, the amphitheatre and Trajan’s Arch.
Tours: This excellent guided tour covers all the Mérida Roman sights, and lasts 3 to 4 hours.
Tarragona Amphitheatre, Spain
Tarraco, on the Costa Dorada to the south of Barcelona, was the ancient capital of the Roman province of Hispania Tarraconensis, to which it gave its name. By Imperial times it was the richest city on the Mediterranean coast of what is now Spain, and this is reflected in the survival of some of the finest Roman monuments in Europe in and around the present city, Tarragona.
The most iconic of these is the Roman Amphitheatre, which has a stunning setting right next to the Mediterranean Sea. It was built around the turn of the 1st and 2nd centuries AD, and could accommodate 15,000 spectators. As elsewhere in the Empire, they enjoyed the usual gory spectacles, including gladiatorial combat and fights with dangerous wild animals.
The Tarragona World Heritage Site also includes the nearby Theatre and Circus, as well as the Pont del Diable (Bridge of the Devil) Aqueduct on the northern outskirts of the city, and the Bera triumphal arch 11 km from the city centre. While in the city, don’t miss Tarragona Cathedral, a splendid Catalan Gothic edifice with a remarkable Romanesque cloister – it’s a real hidden gem, and one of the most beautiful cathedrals in Spain.
Tarragona has probably not ‘caught on’ with tourists in the same way as other seaside towns along the Catalan coast because it’s a workaday port with a few beaches either side (and in both directions up the coast). The nearby seaside town of Salou would be more appealing for many visitors. Next time I’m in the area, I’m looking forward to checking out Tamarit, where a castle on a headland overlooks a lovely sandy beach on either side.
Tours: This Tarragona and Sitges tour from Barcelona covers all the Tarraco Roman sights, and makes a great day out away from the crowds of the Catalan capital.
Segovia Aqueduct, Spain
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Segovia is one of the most beautiful small cities in Europe, and a popular day trip from Madrid, two hours to the southeast. The World Heritage-listed city is renowned for three outstanding sights – the Alcázar (the white castle which inspired the one in Disney’s Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs), the exuberant Gothic Cathedral and the stupendous Roman Aqueduct, one of the great Spanish landmarks.
We don’t know a great deal about the Aqueduct’s history, but recent research suggest that it was built late in the 1st or early in the 2nd centuries AD. Typically of Roman construction, it was built without any mortar, with giant blocks fitting together. It was built to carry water to the Roman town of Segobriga, and fulfilled this function until the 19th century. It’s an amazing 813 metres long, and 29 metres high.
The Aqueduct spans the Plaza del Azoguejo, one of the main squares in Segovia, and is particularly impressive when floodlit at dusk.
Tours: Many visitors opt for a two-city day trip from Madrid (like this tour to Segovia and Avila). I suggest spending a full day in Segovia if possible – which you can do on this Segovia day tour from Madrid.
Pula Arena, Croatia
The amphitheatre in Pula, on the southern coast of the Istria peninsula, is one of the largest Roman arenas to have survived. The first arena on the site was built during the reign of Caesar Augustus, but this was replaced and, between 79 and 81 AD, rebuilt with limestone and enlarged to accommodate gladiatorial fights. Pula Amphitheatre is one of the tallest Roamn arenas, its exterior walls 106 feet (over 32 metres) high.
Unusually, it was built on a slope, hence some parts of the arena are higher than others. Four of the arena’s exterior towers also survive, uniquely among amphitheatres in the former Roman Empire, which is quite a feat considering that the citizens of Pula often helped themselves to stonework from the arena for building purposes.
Visiting the amphitheatre is a must if you’re visiting Istria, as is the Basilica of St Euphrasius, 40 miles up the coast in Poreč. It’s also worth keeping an ear to the ground as Pula Arena also hosts many opera, rock and pop concerts, especially over the spring and summer months.
Tours: You can order your Pula Arena tickets here.
Diocletian’s Palace, Split, Croatia
Emperor Diocletian’s deluxe retirement pad
The name ‘Palace’ is rather misleading, as Emperor Diocletian’s Palace is so much more than that. It’s more of a district of an ancient city, a warren of narrow streets with cafes and restaurants, where thousands of people have lived for around 1,400 years. One of the best ways to preserve an ancient structure like this is to use it, indeed live in it.
Diocletian decided to retire to Split, in his home province of Dalmatia, and spent a decade building this vast complex which included his future mausoleum. It was built between 295 and 305 AD, and when it was completed he abdicated the Imperial throne for a life of leisure. Although he made sure it was also fortified!
The Palace also contains a Temple dedicated to Jupiter, the Town Museum, Diocletian’s state rooms and quarters, and the imposing Cathedral of St Domnius. This was originally Diocletian’s mausoleum, so it’s ironic that this notorious persecutor of Christians should end up interred in a church.
Walk through the Bronze Gate of Diocletian’s Palace onto the Riva, Split’s seafront, which is one of the loveliest in Europe.
Tours: This Split Old Town and Diocletian’s Palace walking tour is a superb introduction to this amazing city.
Butrint, Albania
The ancient Greek – and later Roman – city of Buthrotum now lies in the far south of Albania, a short distance across the Ionian Sea from the Greek island of Corfu.
Thereafter it has been under the control of many European powers, including Byzantium, the Angevins, Venetians, the Despotate of Epirus and the Ottoman Empire.
The buildings at the site span over a thousand years. The theatre pictured above dates from the ancient Greek occupancy of the site. Julius Caesar intended to the newly-acquired site as a settlement for veteran soldiers who had fought for him in recent campaigns.
The Romans added significantly to the city, building a baths complex, an aqueduct, a forum (marketplace) and houses. One of the most important survivals of the Roman era is the baptistery with its mosaic floor, a very early Christian building possibly dating from the 3rd or 4th century AD.
Tours: This tour from Corfu of Butrint and the seaside town of Sarande runs regularly during the spring and summer season.
Plovdiv Roman Theatre, Bulgaria
I once borrowed a Bulgaria guidebook from a Bulgarian-born friend. It was written in the 1960s, and had one glaring omission – the Roman Theatre in Plovdiv. But there was very good reason for this – it hadn’t even been discovered!
It was only because of a massive landslide in 1972 that part of this great Roman monument was revealed, otherwise perhaps we’d still be none the wiser. The city, in Bulgarian Thrace, is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in Europe (between 7,000 and 9,000 years). Philip of Macedon, father of Alexander the Great, extended the town in 342 BC, and promptly renamed it Philippopolis after himself. The Romans conquered the city in 46 AD, renaming it Trimontium.
The stunning Theatre – which is of a similar design to the one in Merida – was built during the reign of Emperor Trajan, probably early in the 2nd century AD. It is now the most famous sight in Bulgaria’s second city. There are other Roman sights in Plovdiv, including sections of the town walls, the Odeon (a smaller, more intimate theatre) and the stadium. If you visit Plovdiv, don’t miss the excellent Archaeological Museum, which has thousands of exhibits from Roman and earlier Thracian times.
Tours: This Plovdiv guided walking tour includes the Roman and Thracian sites around the city, as well as its Orthodox churches and beautiful 19th-century mansions. And one of the best day trips from the capital, Sofia, is this Rila Monastery and Plovdiv day tour .
Caerleon Amphitheatre & Caerwent Roman Town, Wales
Two fascinating Roman settlements are right on my old doorstep in South Wales, once home of the conquered Silures people. We visited both sites on a school day trip around 1983, which was very fortunate as internationally they are probably the least-known Roman sites in this article.
After defeating the Silures, the Romans established the legionary fortress of Isca Augusta in what is now Caerleon around 75 AD, which they occupied for at least the following 200 years. It was one of just three such fortress towns in Britain. The most obvious sight is the Amphitheatre (free to visit), the stands long ago grassed over and a popular sunbathing and picnic spot with locals in summer.
Nearby, the National Roman Legionary Museum and (next door) Roman Baths are fascinating. The Museum (free to enter) has a huge collection of artefacts excavated around the town. In the Roman Baths (adult tickets £5.60) you see what was an outdoor swimming pool, and a reconstructed barracks room, which gives you an idea of how hard life was for a Roman soldier.
Caerwent was a civilian market town, which the Romans called Venta Silurum. It’s ten miles (18 km) east of Caerleon, and is one of the great ancient sites in Wales. The town walls are among the best-preserved in northern Europe, with parts up to 6 metres (20 feet) high. The towers, like the one pictured, are impressive structures, sturdy fortifications built in case the town was ever attacked. The foundations of many houses remain, and their small size suggests Venta Silurum was probably an everyday, workaday small Roman provincial town.
See Also: 20 Best Ancient Sites In Wales To Explore
Theodosian Walls, Istanbul, Turkey
Although the Western Roman Empire had collapsed by 476 AD, the Eastern Roman Empire, with Constantinople (also known as Byzantium) remained for almost another thousand years. In 1453, after many years of gradual weakening, Constantinople finally fell to the Ottoman Turks in 1453 and was eventually renamed Istanbul. It’s one of the great cities of the world for history lovers, and the Romans left plenty of traces behind.
Byzantium became the ‘second Rome’ in 330 AD under the rule of Constantine the Great, after whom the city was eventually named. He built fortified walls, but these were superseded as the city grew by the following (5th) century. These are also double walls, and many of these endure to this day.
One of my favourite things to do in Istanbul is walking the length of the Theodosian Walls. I did this once with an Aussie travel companion, and in those days (the late ‘90s) you could still climb and walk along intermittent sections of the walls. Unfortunately this is no longer the case.
You can either do the route north to south or south to north. I did the former. Start at the ferry terminal at Ayvansaray, on the number 5 line. To get there, take the 1 or 4 from Eminönü to Karaköy, then change there for the 5 (direction Eyüpsultan). Then turn right and cross Ayvansaray Caddesi where the Walls begin after about 100 metres.
For much of the route the Walls run parallel to 10 Yıl Caddesi. The Wall Walk eventually ends at the Yedikule (Golden Gate) fortress, from which you can catch the number 6 tram to Sirkeci train station, at the entrance to the Golden Horn.
Best Roman Monuments In Europe – Final Thoughts
I hope this article has given you some inspiration. There are so many wonderful Roman monuments in Europe to discover, and it has taken me over three decades of travelling around Europe to see all but three of these sites. If you’re looking to cover a few Roman sites on your next trip to Europe, I’d recommend either visiting Rome or Provence in the south of France, which have the biggest concentrations of Roman sites on the continent.
This feature is part of a series of themed Europe-wide articles designed to inspire you to explore further. Take a look at some of these for a few flights of fancy, and hopefully a trip or two in the future:
23 Most Beautiful Streets In Europe – from Bath to Barcelona, Paris to Prague and more
Most Beautiful Villages in Europe – from Santorini to the Swiss Alps via Slovakia
Most Beautiful Churches In Europe – from vast cathedrals to a 1000-year-old Byzantine beach chapel
Best Places To See Spring Flowers In Europe – from Provence to Pembrokeshire, Portugal to Prague and more
Best Art Nouveau Cities In Europe – from the Balkans to Barcelona, Budapest to Brussels and more
Best Art Nouveau Hotels In Europe – including Prague, Nice, Paris, Estonia and more
Best Sunsets In Europe – from the Champs-Elysees to the Charles Bridge, and many more
Most Beautiful Beaches In Europe – from the Algarve to Anglesey, and Corsica to Crete
Most Beautiful Bridges In Europe – Charles Bridge, Tower Bridge, Pont Alexandre III and more
Most Beautiful Squares In Europe – the loveliest public spaces in Europe, from Berlin to Bath, and Portugal to Prague
12 Best Border Towns In Europe – frontier towns across Europe, from Trieste to Trier and European Turkey to the Spain-Portugal border
Most Beautiful Castles In Europe – from Moorish fortresses to ‘Mad’ King Ludwig, and many more
11 Best Unexplored Regions In Europe – from Alentejo to the Adriatic, the Elbe to Extremadura and more
15 Best Off The Beaten Path World Heritage Sites In Europe – from Sicily to Silesia, and Burgos to Blaenau Ffestiniog
Most Beautiful Lakes In Europe – from Austria to Albania and Switzerland to Snowdonia
Most Beautiful Islands In Europe – from Crete to Croatia, Sicily to Slovenia and more
Best Christmas Cities In Europe – the best places to spend Christmas in Europe, and their Christmas Markets
Most Underrated Cities In Europe – hidden gems from all corners of the continent