From ancient cities to crumbling fortresses, there are over a thousand officially designated World Heritage Sites across the globe. With some ruins centuries old, many are at risk from both human and natural threats and UNESCO’s List of World Heritage in Danger highlights those facing uncertainty. So, with the help of Budget Direct and NeoMam Studios we’ve re-imagined what six of these incredible endangered places would look like today and discover a little more about their history too.
Traces of the city’s former glory can still be seen in its fine Roman ruins including the grand amphitheatre (re-imagined here), its theatre from the first century financed by rich aristocrats and the hippodrome (or circus), a roughly 1,500 foot-long (460m) racecourse built in the second century. In the heart of Leptis Magna is the remains of its market, the most recent structure built during the rule of emperor Septimius Severus (193-211 BC) who was born in the city and one of its biggest patrons. Don't miss our collection of fabulous photos of Roman ruins too.
Nicknamed the ‘Venice of the Pacific’, Nan Madol is a series of over 100 man-made stone islets just off the coast of Pohnpei in Micronesia. Built on top of a coral reef between around 1200 and 1500 AD, the ancient islets are filled with temples, stone palaces, tombs, public baths and houses. The ruins are believed to symbolise Nan Madol’s importance as a ceremonial centre during the Saudeleur dynasty (a foreign tribe that came to Pohnpei and became the island’s rulers). Nan Madol made the UNESCO danger list in 2018 because of the uncontrolled plantlife in its waterways threatening the islets.
The main site is approximately one-mile (1.5km) long and like the famous Italian city, it’s surrounded by narrow stretches of water. The huge scale and detail of its ruined buildings and the mystery of why it was built, makes Nan Madol one of the most important archaeological sites in Micronesia. Standing tall, surrounded by two sets of 25-foot (7.6m) high walls was Nan Madol’s largest and most intricate structure, the royal temple known as Nandauwas. Discover more secrets of ancient wonders here.
Alongside its walls, the city was once home to some incredible religious buildings. One of the most famous was the Second Temple of Jerusalem, a sacred site for Jewish people. In around 20 BC, Herod the Great (the King of the Judea) planned to expand the old temple, and it’s thought that construction took around 46 years. In AD 70 the Romans destroyed most of the temple, and today, only its Western Wall remains. Visitors from across the globe still flock to the Old City and it continues to be an important place for worship.
Founded near a natural oasis northeast of Damascus in Syria, Palmyra is home to the magnificent ruins of one of the most significant cultural centres of the ancient world. Likely founded as early as the third millennium BC, Palmyra became an important centre for trade during the first century AD when it fell under the control of the Roman Empire. The city’s stunning art and architecture are thought to reflect various civilisations and cultures across centuries, combining Greco-Roman styles with Persian and Arabian influences.
Although large sections of the city were destroyed by conflict during summer 2016, some of its remarkable ruins remain. One of Palmyra’s most notable buildings is the Temple of Bel, thought to have been constructed between 32 BC and the second century AD. Originally it would have stood on a podium and featured a number of columns but today just a small portion of its portico and walls remain, with emergency works ongoing to preserve as much of the site as possible. Now see what the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World would look like today too.