5. Pompeii, Italy
Almost 2,000 years ago, the ancient Roman city of Pompeii was buried under ash and pumice after the horrifying eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD. Long forgotten under the preservative ash, the ruins were only unearthed in 1599 and the centuries that followed. Today, Pompeii has largely been excavated, and countless priceless artifacts have been recovered from the site. The time-capsule ruins famously give a fascinating insight into life in the ancient Roman Empire.
6. Palmyra, Syria
An ancient city founded in the second millennium BC, the imposing ruins of Palmyra lie in what is now Syria. The city features a stunning theater, along with many shrines, temples and stone houses. The site, which once served as the center of the Palmyrene Empire in 270-273, was still inhabited until 1932, when it was finally abandoned. Sadly, these ancient ruins are now under full assault by terrorist group ISIL, who have destroyed many of the buildings and priceless artifacts.
