Ancient World

While I am not currently a practicing archaeologist, I am an archaeologist at heart. I absolutely love the Ancient World and it doesn’t really matter where in the world or what civilization. (Although, Ancient Rome will always have my heart.)

Rome’s Ancient Forum. Been four times and I still can’t wait until I go again.

Honestly, I am a ruins junkie. I love to explore ruins of past civilizations, followed by writing about it. Here are all my posts that featured something about an ancient civilization, whether it be an Ancient Greek temple, or an Ancient Roman arch found in the middle of a British town or even Sinagua ruins in the center of Arizona. All is fair game.

Montezuma’s Castle in central Arizona. Built at the same time as Europe’s Middle Ages, Montezuma’s Castle was built by a stone age people. Kind of makes it even more impressive.

Come and explore the Ancient World with me!


Italia: Wandering Milan

Explorations of one of Italy’s largest cities that for some reason I keep going back to.  Continue reading

Italia: Museo di Santa Giulia

Explorations of a UNESCO world heritage site where the ancient world meets the medieval world and beyond.  Continue reading

Italia: Wandering Brescia

Palazzo della Loggia, Brescia, Italy

A northern Italian city with ancient ruins, a UNESCO monastic complex, and even a castle!  Continue reading

Italia: Wandering Arezzo

Piazza Grande. Arezzo, Italy

Explorations of a lesser known, but still gorgeous, Tuscan city. Continue reading

Italia: Wandering Perugia

City views. Perugia, Italy

Explore a hilltop city complete with medieval buildings, churches and gorgeous views.  Continue reading

Italia: Wandering Herculaneum

Casa del Salone Nero. Ruins of Herculaneum. Ercolano, Italy

Explorations of one of the other ancient cities buried by Vesuvius. Continue reading

Italia: Wandering Pompeii

Villa di Diomede. Pompeii, Italy

Ancient streets, ancient ruins and ancient art, explore the famous buried city of Pompeii! Continue reading

Italia: Wandering Catania

Basilica Cattedrale di Sant'Agata. Catania, Sicily, Italy

Explorations of a Baroque city at the foot of Mt. Etna.  Continue reading

Italia: Wandering Ostia Antica

Caseggiato del Serapide. Ostia Antica, Rome, Italy

Explorations of the ruins of Rome’s ancient port! Continue reading

Italia: Wandering Rome, Again, Part 2

Mausoleo di Santa Costanza. Rome, Italy

My obsession with Rome is starting to get a bit ridiculous.  Continue reading

Italia: Wandering Rome, Again

Trajan's Market. Rome, Italy

A fifth visit to the Eternal City.  Continue reading

Poverty Point

Poverty Point State Historic Site, Louisiana

Check out a mysterious ancient culture and the 3,000-year-old mounds they left behind. Continue reading

Wandering Berlin

Brandenburg Gate (Brandenburger Tor). Berlin, Germany

A palace and a bit of a wander, check out my explorations of Berlin! Continue reading

Wandering Vienna

St. Michael's Wing. Hofburg. Vienna, Austria

Palaces, museums, and churches! Oh, My! Explore the amazing Vienna, Austria! Continue reading

Cahokia

Monks Mound. Cahokia, Illinois

Before Columbus, there once was a large metropolis on the Mississippi larger than most European cities of the time.  Continue reading

España: Wandering Cordoba

garden. Alcázar de los Reyes Cristianos. Cordoba, Spain

Patios, gardens, and courtyards. Explorations of Cordoba.  Continue reading

España: Wandering Granada, Part 1

cloister. Monasterio de San Jeronimo. Granada, Spain

Explorations of Granada, an Andalusian gem. Continue reading

España: Baelo Claudia and Tarifa

ruins. Baelo Claudia. Bolonia, Spain

An Ancient Roman town and a seaside town, more explorations of the southern Spanish coast! Continue reading

España: Itálica

mosaic. Italica. Seville, Spain

This mostly forgotten city was one of Ancient Rome’s finest treasures.  Continue reading

España: Palacios de Sevilla

courtyard. Casa de Pilatos. Seville, Spain

More mosaics, more gardens and more courtyards! Seville’s palaces are just breathtaking.  Continue reading

España: Wandering Mérida

Ancient Roman theatre. Merida, Spain

Explorations a Spanish city with Roman ruins around every corner. Continue reading

España: Trujillo and Medellín

Two castles, one ancient theater and two adorable towns on hills.  Continue reading

España: Cáparra and Alcántara

Roman ruins, ancient bridges, a random hermitage, and Portugal?  Continue reading

España: Wandering Palencia and Plasencia

A couple of quick visits to two lovely Spanish cities.  Continue reading

España: Wandering Segovia

Explorations of beautiful Old Segovia, Spain. Continue reading

Ancient Pueblos and a Giant Crater

Meteor Crater, Arizona

My last Arizona adventure ends with a visit to Homol’ovi State Park and Meteor Crater!  Continue reading

Petrified Forest

Giant Logs. Petrified Forest National Park, Arizona.

A very belated visit to a fantastic Arizona national park that features some really cool petrified wood!  Continue reading

Around Great Britain in 30 Days: Days 27-28, Cornwall and Devon

Castle Drogo. Devon, England

Explore some of what England’s most beautiful peninsula has to offer. Continue reading

Viaggio Italiano: Wandering Tivoli

Canopus. Hadrian's Villa. Tivoli, Italy.

Explore two villas built over a thousand years apart in this sleepy county town outside of Rome. Continue reading

Viaggio Italiano: Return to Rome, Part 2

Castel Sant'Angelo. Rome, Italy

Churches, churches and more churches, tag along as I explore some of my favorite sights in Rome.  Continue reading

Viaggio Italiano: Return to Rome, Part 1

Colosseum. Rome. Italy

Returning to explore more of the Eternal City with two days jam packed full of ancient ruins and other awesome sights! Continue reading

Viaggio Italiano: Return to Naples

Naples, Italy

Tag along as I return once again to the amazing city of Naples, Italy. Continue reading

Viaggio Italiano: Return to Pompeii

Forum. Pompeii, Italy.

Explore the ruins of the world’s most famous buried city! Continue reading

Viaggio Italiano: Valley of the Temples

Valley of the Temples. Agrigento, Sicily, Italy

A ridge, rather than a valley, full of wonderful ruins next to a wonderful Sicilian city. Continue reading

Viaggio Italiano: the Ruins of Selinunte

Temple of Hera (Temple F) Selinunte, Sicily, Italy

Explore the amazing ruins of an Ancient Greek city on the southern coast of Sicily. Continue reading

Viaggio Italiano: Wandering Palermo, Part Two

Fontana Pretoria. Palermo, Italy

Further explorations take me through the bustling streets of Palermo.  Continue reading

Viaggio Italiano: Villa Romana del Casale

Villa Romana del Casale. Piazza Armerina, Sicily. Italy

In the middle of Sicily lies the ruins of an Ancient Roman villa filled with amazing mosaics found nowhere else. Continue reading

Viaggio Italiano: Wandering Syracuse

Piazza del Duomo. Syracuse, Italy

Explore one of Sicily’s most famous and oldest cities. Continue reading

Viaggio Italiano: Wandering Taormina

Explorations of an adorable city high above the Mediterranean Sea. Continue reading

Mysterious Temples of Malta

Explore the mysterious and unique Neolithic temples of Malta! Continue reading

Malta: Wandering Rabat

With an Ancient Roman house and hidden catacombs, Rabat is an interesting Maltese town. Continue reading

Wandering Arles

amphitheater. Arles, France

Explorations of a picturesque Southern French town. Continue reading

The Catacombs of Naples

Catacombs of San Gennaro. Naples, Italy

They are grisly, dark and awesome! Check out the Catacombs of Naples! Continue reading

Around Great Britain in 30 Days: Day 20, Carlisle to Penrith

Carlisle Cathedral. Carlisle, England

A cathedral, an abbey, castle ruins and even a mysterious stone circle, all the British staples in just one day.  Continue reading

So Many Petroglyphs, So Little Time

Petroglyph. Petroglyph National Monument. Albuquerque, New Mexico

Gaze in wonder at the fantastic rock carvings at Petroglyph National Monument. Continue reading

Bandelier

Bandelier National Monument. New Mexico

With Native American ruins and waterfalls, Bandelier has both nature and history. Continue reading

Wandering Bath

Roman Baths. Bath, England

Ancient Roman, Tudor and Neo-classical architecture dot this lovely Somerset city. Bath is a lovely place to wander and explore. Continue reading

Natural Bridges

Owachomo Bridge. Natural Bridges National Monument, Utah.

Located in the absolute middle of nowhere Utah is a national monument that preserves three amazing natural bridges. Continue reading

Wandering Ravenna

Ravenna, Italy

Explorations of a city full of the most wonderful mosaics ever. Seriously, they are awesome. Continue reading

Dinosaurs and Petroglyphs

Fossil Discovery trail. Dinosaur National Monument. Utah, Colorado

Check out a national monument with both dinosaurs and petroglyphs, and some nice views. So much awesome in one place. Continue reading