Whether they're places of worship, popular tourist attractions or luxury flats, there's a whole host of historic landmarks still flourishing today. From Roman amphitheatres to ancient Chinese temples, we take a look at some of the world's oldest man-made structures that are still in use.
Surely the world's most famous stone circle, Stonehenge was built around 2500 BC. The smaller stones were transported from west Wales (we're still not 100% sure how), while the larger ones were quarried closer to the site. Visitors can still get relatively close to the stones, and those who follow pagan, druid and earth-centred belief systems flock here in full regalia to mark the summer and winter solstices.
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Built between the 9th and 7th centuries BC, the Fortress of Van overlooks the modern-day city of the same name and the ruins of ancient Tushpa, former capital of the Urartian Kingdom. Skilled Urartian architects used unusually advanced mathematical techniques to construct the castle, mostly out of rubble stone, mud brick and cut stone materials. There are also eight rock-cut tombs with 29-foot-tall (9m) chambers. You can still step inside the citadel today, where you’ll pass a ruined mosque and arch-roofed building en route to the summit.
The Caravan Bridge in Izmir (historically known as Smyrna) dates back almost three millennia. Originally built in 850 BC for camel trains entering the town, this simple yet sturdy bridge is still crossed by locals in what is now one of Turkey’s most populous cities. A tough slab-stone arch, it is recognised by the Guinness Book of World Records as the oldest datable bridge in the world that's still in use.
First built around 300 BC, the Sanchi Stupa was remodelled to twice its previous size around 185 BC, reusing giant stone slabs to form a flattened dome. Now standing 71 feet (22m) tall, it's one of the oldest surviving stone structures in India. Despite being abandoned for some 600 years, the site was restored by pilgrims in the 20th century and now fields a steady stream of Buddhist worshippers.
This pedestrian walkway is the oldest bridge in Rome, and, amazingly, it hasn't changed much since it was built in 62 BC. The Ponte Fabricio (or Pons Fabricius) was constructed to replace a wooden bridge destroyed by fire, and also goes by the name Ponte dei Quattro Capi ('Bridge of the Four Heads') after two two-faced statues were added during later restoration works. At 200 feet (61m) long it connects Rome’s mainland to Tiber Island, and is just as beautiful today as it ever was.
When the Theatre of Marcellus opened in 13 BC, it was the largest theatre in the whole Roman Empire. Built using brick, concrete and tuff (a light, porous rock), and finished with travertine (limestone), it hosted up to 40,000 spectators for performances of drama, music and dance. The theatre has changed a lot since its ancient heyday – the upper floors, for instance, have been converted into high-end apartments – but it still hosts open-air classical concerts during long summer evenings.
With 120 arches, two tiers of seating and an elaborate trapdoor system under the stage, Arles Amphitheatre is the largest Roman monument in France. Inspired by Rome's Colosseum, the theatre was built between AD 80 and 90 and could seat up to 20,000 spectators for gladiatorial battles and chariot races. During the Middle Ages it was converted into a fortress with four towers that protected some 200 houses, but since the 19th century it's largely been used as a bullfighting arena, although historic reconstructions, concerts and shows also take place.
The Tower of Hercules is thought to be the oldest lighthouse in the world (probably built during the reign of Trajan in AD 98-117), and is the only Roman-era lighthouse still in use today. The landmark on the shores of A Coruna is exceptionally well-preserved, and consists of a four-sided tower topped by two smaller octagonal towers that were added in the 18th century. At 180 feet (55m), it is still one of the tallest lighthouses in Spain, its beauty heightened by the surrounding craggy cliffs.
Just a couple of miles from Merida in Spain, Proserpina Dam was constructed during Roman rule around AD 100, with various other sections added over the years. Today the 1,394-foot-long (425m) structure makes for a scenic stroll or picnic spot, and the accompanying reservoir is still used to irrigate farms. For centuries it was known as Albuera de Carija, but the name was changed in the 19th century following the discovery of an ancient inscription at the site. A tantalising insight into Roman gossip, the writer called on goddess of the underworld Proserpina to punish those that had stolen some drying laundry...
This octagonal temple is one of the oldest Hindu temples in the world that's still in use. The Mundeshwari Devi Temple in Bihar is dedicated to Shiva and Shakti, and worshippers still flock to the site, especially for the popular Rama Navami and Shivratri festivals. Perched on the Mundeshwari Hills, the stone temple dates to AD 108 (others claim AD 105), with doors and statues adorning alternating walls.
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The Pantheon is a case of third time lucky: both of the building's predecessors burned down, and the one you see today was built around AD 125 by Roman emperor Hadrian. Its original purpose is still a bit murky but since the 7th century it’s been used as a Catholic church, and the basilica (Santa Maria ad Martyres) continues to host mass and special events. Step inside the rotunda and marvel at the washes of purple, red and yellow adorning the floors, columns and architectural details – but the real showstopper is the skylight-like ‘oculus’ at the centre of the dome, which stretches 30 feet (9m) wide.
Completed in AD 139, the Mausoleum of Hadrian marked the final resting place of the famous Roman emperor, his family and a few of his successors. Also known as Castel Sant’Angelo, the cylindrical edifice later found work as a fortress, prison and residence for the Pope, but today is a fascinating museum filled with exhibits documenting the building's diverse history. Visitors can browse five floors of frescoes, weapons and sculptures.
Shibam was – depending on your definitions – the world's first skyscraper city. In AD 300, the desert town built 500 mud-brick towers as protection from flooding and as a vantage point to spot incoming attackers, which has since earned it the nickname the 'Chicago of the desert'. One of the earliest examples of multi-storey vertical structures on Earth, today the town is built of the same mud brick, and buildings reach up to 11 storeys with heights of 100 feet (30m).
At 108 feet (33m) high, 90 feet (27m) wide and 220 feet (67m) long, the Basilica of Constantine (also called the Aula Palatina) is the largest surviving single room from the ancient world – and it isn't even supported by columns. The former throne room was built around AD 310 for Roman emperor Constantine, before becoming a bishop’s residence and, eventually, a church. The still-functioning church also hosts concerts (just imagine the acoustics) and fascinating tours beneath the basilica, tracing the building's Roman foundations.
The Santa Sabina is a Christian church built in the 5th century AD that's still open to tourists and worshippers – in fact, it's a popular place to get hitched. The original layout and style is well preserved, including a flank of elaborate Corinthian colonnades, a single remaining mosaic and rows of selenite (not glass) windows. These surviving elements combine to give us a rare window into 5th-century worship and architecture.
Built above and below ground, Hagia Sophia is an icon of Istanbul. At its highest point, the building reaches 180 feet (54m), and its domes, walls and minarets encapsulate the city's complex history, complete with both Islamic inscriptions and Christian mosaics. The structure started life in the 6th century AD as a Christian church, before it was converted into a mosque in the 15th century following Ottoman conquest. In 1934 it became a museum, but it was controversially stripped of its museum status in 2020 and is now officially a mosque once again.
Built in the 6th century AD, St Catherine’s Monastery sits at the foot of Mount Sinai, where, according to the Old Testament, Moses received the ten commandments from God. Designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2002, it's the region's most important religious site for Christianity, Islam and Judaism, and is thought to be the world's oldest continuously inhabited Christian monastery. You can still check out the original external walls and central church.
Hindus, Buddhists and Jains have worshipped at the magnificent Ellora Caves for thousands of years. Carved from volcanic basalt stone, the sprawling site was formed somewhere between AD 550 and 750 and is home to Kailasa Temple, the largest rock-cut monument in the world. It's also a popular tourist attraction; visitors can walk through selected caves and take in the intricate details of the reliefs, monoliths and statues.
Among the oldest places of worship in the entire Islamic world, the Great Mosque in the ancient city of Kairouan (aka the Mosque of Uqba) is one of the holiest sites in Islam. Established around AD 670, the mosque's first-of-its-kind architecture had a huge influence on subsequent mosques in the Maghreb region (northwest Africa). Rebuilt in the 8th and 9th centuries, with final additions in the 13th century, the finished result is a dazzling blend of Islamic, Roman and Byzantine architectural styles. The mosque is still a place of worship; visitors are welcome to look inside, but non-Muslims aren't permitted in the prayer room.
Nanchan Temple is believed to be the oldest extant wooden structure in China. This simple yet graceful temple was built during the Tang Dynasty (an epitaph dates it to AD 782), and it survived the centuries in part thanks to its remote mountain location. Its symmetrical design, along with the clay Buddhist sculptures and central statue of Sakyamuni (the founder of Buddhism) inside the main hall, is typical of this golden age of temple building.
Probably the oldest inhabited wooden house in the world, Kirkjuboargarour (a farmhouse on the largest farm in the Faroes) dates back to roughly AD 1100. With no forests on the island, wood is extremely valuable, and legend holds that the timber came from Norwegian driftwood. Today the farmhouse serves as a museum, and still houses the 17th generation of the Patursson family, who have occupied the house since 1550.
Perched atop a 367-foot-high (111m) mesa in New Mexico, the Native American settlement of Acoma Pueblo is the oldest continuously-inhabited community in North America. This clifftop pueblo was founded in the early 12th century and while only 50 or so tribal elders live here year-round now, many others return for festivals and sacred ceremonies. For a small fee, visitors can check out the largely original streetscape, the later Spanish architecture and the flat-topped adobes. The Sky City Cultural Centre and Haak'u Museum are open from Wednesday to Sunday for those wanting to learn more about this historic site.
Painstakingly carved out of solid basalt, Lalibela's 11 rock-hewn medieval churches are widely considered to date from King Lalibela's reign (AD 1181-1221). The monolithic buildings include chiselled doors, windows and columns, alongside an extensive network of ceremonial subterranean passageways and catacombs. The churches at this staggering site are still used for daily worship and special ceremonies, while larger crowds flock here at Christmas and Easter, when white-robed pilgrims crowd the courtyards.