Favourite Historical Site

[Gordian Knot]

Palmyra in Syria. Ruled by Queen Zenobia in the 3rd century A.D. Once one of the greatest cities because of its location between east and west trade routes. Many of the ruins remain to this day.

 

[Montero]

In the UK -

Castle Bolton in Yorkshire. Saw it some years ago, it is a square keep/fortified tower, still in the ownership of the family. Has a wonderful notice at the front door about how the family had been there for all the major events in history, always on the losing side.
They supported Richard III and Charles I (and I've forgotten who else).
It was very much done on a budget - so you walk into the banqueting hall and the first impression is of a long grand table hung with a posh table cloth - look closer and it is curtains over planks. Friendly and quirky.

A NT owned fortified house near Hexham whose name I have forgotten. One of the most peaceful places I've visited. Up on cliffs above a river - the windows of the house open over the gorge. There is still a lot of the medieval house to be seen, such as the central screen dividing the kitchens from the posher bits.

Silchester - a Roman town that was excavated a while back. Not much visited. Just wander round it - its enormous.

Exeter Cathedral - the nave in sunshine is just so beautiful. The close around it is lovely too with a couple of tea shops in nearby medieval buildings where you can sit and eat and look at the cathedral.

And outside the UK
Not seen that much but have seen the Acropolis and Delphi. The Acropolis is impressive but crowded and city surrounded with rising smog. Delphi is magical. So peaceful you can hear all the bees buzzing. Look out from the stadium at the top of the hill and there is almost nothing modern to be seen.

 

[Allegra]

How could I forget to bring up my three most favourite places in Malta:

Mdina - the medieval capital:

You get a real sense of time travel in those silent narrow streets:

St. John's Co-Cathedral - built by the Knights of Malta in 1570's. Caravaggio's masterpiece The Beheading of Saint John the Baptist is housed here:

The magnificent Mnajdra - a megalithic temple complex built in 4th millennium BC, one of the oldest (pagan?) worship site on earth:

 

[Brian G Turner]

How on earth did I miss this thread?!

I've a soft spot for Ardoch fort, near Braco.

Superb site, certainly my favourite Roman fort site, not least for the fact that there are three different forts there. Being near Stirling, it is surrounded by amazing views, not least of the Breadlebane mountains and Ochils.

Palmyra in Syria.

It's on my shopping list - unfortunately, I don't think I'll get there anytime soon because of the political turmoil. Similar for other major ancient sites in Tunisia, Libya, and Iraq. Persepolis in Iran might be doable, though for how long remains to be seen.

How could I forget to bring up my three most favourite places in Malta

Those are amazing pictures - never knew there was so much to the island! Will put it on my list.


As for favourite historical places: to be honest, my favourite ever place is Wharram Percy mediaeval village in North Yorkshire. There's not much there aside from earthworks and a now ruined church - but it had a feeling.

Rievaulx Abbey was pretty good, too - lots of ruins, and you can practically hear the long-gone monks chanting.

Karnak was good, but Western Thebes and the mass of ruins there I found more atmospheric.

Drinking coffee on the lawns between Hagia Sofia and the Blue Mosque in Istanbul recently was interesting - both buildings look quite spectacular from the outside, though surprisingly less so inside.

Hoping to do Rhodes very soon.

 

[Interversus]

The most impressive site I've been to was Machu Picchu, but I also get a lot of pleasure from the more modest historic places I find while hiking the in UK. The grassy lumps in the middle of no where which turn out to be barrows, or sunken ancient roads or abandoned villages on a Scottish cliff, I just love. A drizzly feet up sitting on my own, drinking my coffee and wondering what went on in the landscape in front of me, I find it hard to repeat that feeling in the more crowded but spectacular historic sites.

Love Rome too, but I get overwhelmed there.

 

[Starbeast]

The Bosnian Valley of the Pyramids

I'd love to go there, and even help with the current excavations.

 

[Allegra]

If you do get to Athens, make sure you take a little day cruise out to the islands Hydra, Aegina and Poros cos they're super pretty. I love Greece.

Finally, been there, done that, loved it. To see the magnificent ruins of Parthenon, Ancient Agora, Temple of Olympian Zeus etc etc and imagine the sceneries and the people's life around them 2500 years ago was like a dream. The National Archaeological Museum is simply a treasure.

When go to Rome, Paris, or Barcelona, you get what you expected, but Athens was a wonderful surprise for me, especially since the country's economy is in ruins with nearly 25% unemployment rate. If not for the too many graffiti, everywhere seemed peaceful in our tourists eyes. Greeks are truly a lovely people with sunny Mediterranean character, but mellower, friendlier and humbler than their neighbours. The service is generally excellent. They smile the genuine smile so easily! And the delicious Greek food, wines and coffee have distinct flavours from other Mediterranean regions.

Mouse, we took a boat trip to the three islands unfortunately Hydra had to be cancelled due to wind/wave conditions at the port. The other two are very pretty indeed! We got lots of pistachios from Aegina - now I know where all the pistachio trees are.

I have to say Athens has to be the most underrated great ancient city in Europe. At this time of the year the weather is still pleasant but you don't see as many tourists as you should. All the local people we talked to complained that media's overly exaggerated exposure on the protests and general strikes have harmed tourism badly. What a shame. I, for one, will go there again because I'm already miss the place and the people.

 

[Mouse]

Yay! Glad you got there, Allegra. The Greeks are really lovely people. Did you get lots of freebies? I even got given a necklace, which was nice.

The book I just finished reading had one of the characters go to one of those three islands (I think it was Poros) and the descriptions took me back there.

Things were pretty cheap in Athens when I went... I remember buying a huuuuuge bag of cherries for one euro.

Did you just do Athens or did you venture elsewhere? I toured the whole Peloponnese so got to visit Olympia and Delphi too (amongst others - I've probably said all this already in this thread!).

The only thing I didn't like about Greece was the food! I really don't like the flavour of it - I'm not into olives or all the oily stuff. The best meal I had when I was there was when I went to an Italian restaurant.

I love the shops too! I walked into one and the woman who worked there said 'Hola!' and when I replied 'Hiya!' she was surprised I was English and said she'd thought I was Spanish. (I'm extremely pale, but I got mistaken for a Spaniard and a Greek several times!)

 

[Allegra]

That's another reason I must go back again because I really wanted to go to Delphi but couldn't. We only had enough time for Athens and the two islands. Yes the Greeks are generous people. We did get quite some freebies mainly in restaurants, free drinks and deserts and stuff. I shopped some clothes too, I think the prices are more or less the same as other major cities in European mainland.

Food wise, I liked their souvlaki - a bit like Turkish kebabs but with a touch of Mediterranean, sadziki and salad with goat cheese (actually we do that a lot at home but somehow theirs just tasted more authentic!) Their grilled seafood are also decent. And yes, I love olives!

One thing I really didn't like is seeing so many stray dogs. They are mostly medium sized, many are even German shepherds. Though they look content and well fed, still a sad scene to see them curling up in a corner of the street. What will happen to them when winter comes? We also had the honour to acquaint the local cats community in Poros, they seemed very hospitable.

 

[Mouse]

Oh yeah, stray dogs and cats all over the place! I went to one of the beaches in a little town and a couple of strays were on the beach - a Lab kept play biting my legs (didn't actually break my skin or anything, thank god!).

 

[stormcrow]

Pembroke Castle, Dyffed, Wales

Repeated childhood holidays staying in The Flemish Cottage - a tiny cottage opposite the Barbican complex and within the old town walls, reputedly the gatekeepers' in earlier times. Back then, admission was free or later very cheap. My parents allowed me to explore for hours - and I did! Sometimes we watched Shakespearian plays on the ruins.

Pembroke Castle is firmly my favourite of this type of castle, and was once the seat of the Tudor dynasty; much later besieged by Cromwells troops during the English Civil War - often overlooked for it's significance.

It has towering walls set on cliff-tops above a river estuary, impressive towers, massive circular keep (80' I think) and a cave - The Wogan Cavern - beneath (perfect for dragons!?).

 

[jasminevincent]

I've visited Petra in Arabah, Jordan that was become popular by the 3rd Indiana Jones film. I believe that this is the world's largest and coolest attraction. Really a nice place to visit!

 

[MontyCircus]

The Great Wall is the only wonder I've been to. I think it would be better as seen from the air, from a helicopter, but they don't offer that unfortunately.

I'd like to visit England some day, and see the pyramids, Colosseum, Parthenon...

 

[Mirannan]

Of world sites, I'd like to offer one not so far mentioned; the Zimbabwe ruins. A bit difficult and dangerous to get to right now, unfortunately.

Of UK historical sites, my favourite is probably the old parts of Cambridge - particularly the street holding most of the ancient colleges. It's also quite nice seeing them from the back, during a punt ride along the Cam.

 

[doglim]

Too many to pick just one, but the first that came to mind were the Welsh Castles of Edward I (OK, so not one place, but a collection).

Each of them are special, but when you consider them all together, and their proximity, they are incredible. Caernarfon, Harlech, Beaumaris, Conwy. Just amazing stuff.

 

[Harpo]

From where I'm sitting right now, I can see the venue where Led Leppelin's reunion gig took place. If that's not historical enough, I can see (If I stand up) the Greenwich Observatory. The room I am in is my favourite historical site.

 

[Gramm838]

Vindolanda. Is. Amazing.

And while you're in Northumberland you can see Newcastle Castle Keep! which is so much more explorable than you'd think from the outside. I wish I'd been 10 when I first found it.

I grew up in Newcastle and never once visited the castle, lol!

As for Bamburgh Castle, keep your hands off it, it's mine if I ever win the Euromillions lottery...

 

[Allegra]

Magnificent Melk Abby in Austria. Its library is like fantasy film setting. I'd do anything if they could let me touch and open those books!

 

[Gramm838]

Another nice site is El Jem in Tunisia, the Roman Amphitheater where Gladiator was filmed; however the place is covered in graffiti scratched into the sandstone walls, some of it dating back quite a long time

 

[Mith]

While not my favourite historical place, I did enjoy a trip to Carisbrooke Castle on the Isle of Wight a few years back. I'd not heard of the place before setting foot on the island, even though Charles the 1st was imprisoned there for a few months before he lost his head.