FlightHub presents Your Tour Your Way: Walking through History in Italy
The country of Italy is known for many things; they’re world-famous fashion houses, their excellent wines and even better cuisines, their breathtaking landscape and of course, their history. The Italian peninsula sits in the southwestern part of Europe and is surrounded by the Mediterranean Sea. Due to its geographical location, it’s a natural hub for economic, political and social progress that greatly influenced it’s position during antiquity. As the center of the Roman Empire, the Italian peninsula is home to some of the richest and most important archeological sites in the world. Here is your FlightHub Review one-stop guide to exploring all the best spots to explore Italy’s ancient history.
Verona Arena
Located in Verona, Italy, this amphitheater was first constructed approximately in 30 AD. During the times of antiquity, the theatre would hold up to 30,000 people and would host a variety of different events to entertain the citizens of Verona. FlightHub recommends visiting this site as the amphitheater represents a true testament to Roman engineering and construction. The theatre is still in public use today, serving as an internationally recognized opera theatre.
Civita di Bagnoregio
Known as ‘the dying town’, Civita di Bagnoregio is a hilltop city in the province of Viterbo was founded over 2,500 years ago by the Etruscans, who dominated most of Northern Italy during 768 BCE -264 BCE. Due to its perilous location and as a result of a devastating earthquake, the town was forced to move during the 17th century to its suburb Bagnoregio. Since then the town has sat atop the hill relatively untouched. No need for queue’s in this hilltop town, with only 100 permanent residents in the town FlightHub thinks this is a great place to explore some of Italy’s untouched history.
The valley of the Temples
Located in the eastern part of the Sicily lies the archeological site of the Valley of the Temples in Agrigento. Though located in Sicily, the temples were expertly crafted in the Greek Doric architectural style, emphasizing how intricately tied these ancient civilizations were to one another. Among the site, FlightHub suggests walking through the ruins of some of the most beautiful temples that still stand from this period. Of the 7 temples in the valley, the Temple of Concordia is the most pristinely preserved.
Pompeii and Herculaneum
On August 24th 79 AD, the volcano of Mount Vesuvius erupted and covered the surrounding towns of Pompeii and Herculaneum under a cloud of volcanic ash.
In Herculaneum, the deep pyroclastic material from the eruption allowed for the conservation of organic material, meaning that wooden structures such as beds, roofs, doors and skeletons remained preserved for 1,700 years until its excavation. It’s quite an astounding experience to walk through a town so old, yet relatively untouched. FlightHub suggests visiting House number 22, as it displays a magnificent piece of ancient mosaic.
Though Pompeii was further than Herculaneum from the initial explosion site, this city suffered the most from falling debris and was consumed by volcanic ash after the eruption. Through extensive excavation, archeologists show visitors what life was like in this Roman town. While in Pompeii be sure to see the House of the Faun, or behold the Villa of Mysteries. Feeling cheeky, then be sure to try this trick out: During the time of Pompeii, when looking for a brothel young men would pour water on the phallic symbols found on the street, through the flow of water they were then directed to the nearest brothel.
Rome
Almost all of Rome is a living and breathing archeological wonderland. From the Coliseum to the Baths of Diocletian, there’s almost too much history to see and experience. FlightHub Review suggest walking through Trajan’s Market, believed to be one of the world’s oldest established shopping malls. In recent years, many historians now believe that this multi-level structure acted instead as the administrative offices of the Emperor Trajan.
The Pantheon, a temple dedicated to all of Rome’s deities, was built in 118 AD by the Emperor Hadrian. As the one of the most preserved structures of Roman antiquity, the Pantheon is an integral part of city life surrounding it. A sphere within a cylinder, this architectural wonder was saved from ruin by having it converted into a catholic church during the pagan pillaging. FlightHub suggests enjoying the view of the stunning temple at dusk.
