It might be difficult to imagine how an entire city can become lost in time, leaving nothing more than ruins in its wake. Whether due to war, natural disaster, climate change or other reasons, cities have risen and fallen throughout history. Some such cities, like Pompeii, were only rediscovered centuries later by archaeologists or even by accident, having been all but forgotten by the passage of time. Here are some of the most remarkable lost cities out there, waiting for you to rediscover.
1. Akrotiri, Santorini
Located in one of Greece’s most romantic and popular vacation islands, the settlement of Akrotiri dates back a staggering 7,000 years. Starting as nothing more than a small fishing village, it eventually became an important trading post, featuring extensive sewage systems, paved streets and dozens of stone buildings. However, the eruption of Mount Theba wiped out the city in the 17th century, leaving the place in ruins and uninhabited ever since.
2. Machu Picchu, Peru
Machu Picchu is undoubtedly Peru’s most famous lost city, and much of it remains shrouded in mystery. A relic of classical Inca architecture, the city was built around 550 years ago as a retreat for Emperor Pachacuti, but it was abandoned after only a hundred years, largely as an indirect result of the Spanish Conquest. Today, Machu Picchu can be reached either by train via nearby town of Aguas Calientes or by foot along the arduous Inca Trail.
3. Leptis Magna, Libya
North Africa is home to some of the most spectacular and unspoiled Greek and Roman ruins in the world, and the ancient city of Leptis Magna is perhaps the most splendid of them all. Dating back around 3,000 years, the city, located on the coast of what is now Libya, has remained largely forgotten by western tourists. A great deal of buildings, such as the amphitheater, market place and the Septimus Severus Basilica, remain largely intact.
