Discover Europe's oldest cities: Experience history up close!

Discover Europe's oldest cities: Experience history up close!

Europe is not only known for its picturesque landscapes and historical sites, but also for some of the oldest cities in the world. These cities offer a unique insight into the history and cultural development of the continent. However, historians and archaeologists are faced with the challenge of naming exact years for the establishment of these settlements, since new archaeological finds are repeatedly made. The outstanding examples include Plowdiw in Bulgaria, Argos in Greece and Genoa in Italy.

plowdiw, one of the oldest cities in Europe, was around 6000 BC. Founded and shows the traces of a long story in which various peoples such as the Thracians, Romans and Ottomans ruled. Today Plowdiw with its approximately 350,000 inhabitants is the second largest city of Bulgaria. The archaeological park foget Tepe, the Roman stadium and the ancient theater are just a few of the sights that attract visitors. In addition, Plowdiw was elected to the cultural capital of Europe in 2019 and celebrates the diversity of its history.

insight into the oldest cities

Argos, Greece, is considered one of the oldest -populated cities in Europe. With an estimated story of around 7,000 years, it is an important testimony of ancient civilizations. The first settlements went to 5000 BC. BC back. Sights such as the theater carved in the rocks and the Archaeological Museum are witnesses of this long history. The city has around 27,000 inhabitants today.

Genoa in Italy, the sixth largest city in the country, can be found in traces of human life in the fourth millennium BC. BC look back. The old Ligurers were the first inhabitants of this region, followed by numerous conquerors such as Carthaginians and Romans. Genoa is today an important port and a popular starting point for cruises. The old town, which is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site due to its Renaissance and baroque buildings, regularly attracts tourists.

The capital of Greece, Athens, has its origin in 3000 BC. The first settlement was on the famous rock of the Acropolis, from where the city grew through trade and shipping. Nowadays Athens houses around 665,000 people and is known for its impressive sights such as the Acropolis, the Parthenon and the Propylaea.

• Chania, Greece: settlement since around 1700 BC. Chr.; known for his Venetian port.
• larnaka, Cyprus: Historical Stadtkönigreich Kition with remains until the 13th century BC. Chr.
• Lisbon, Portugal: probably from 1000 BC. Founded, important trading center in antiquity.
• Cádiz, Spain: foundation stone around 1100 BC. BC, strategically important for seafaring.

In addition to these cities, there are other ancient cities like Matera in Italy worldwide, which has had traces since the old stone time, or Varanasi in India, which is considered one of the oldest inhabited cities. These cities not only in Europe, but all over the world, offer captivating insights into the origins and developments of human civilizations and are a valuable legacy for future generations.

The interaction of different cultures, civilizations and historical events is reflected in the city structures and monuments that still exist today, which keep the past alive. The diversity and longevity of these cities are reminiscent of how closely history and current life are interwoven. For those who are interested in the roots of mankind, these historical sites are invaluable and offer countless stories that are waiting to be told.