Look up from the forum and you’ll see Palatine Hill, one of the city’s most ancient places. It's supposedly where Romulus and Remus, legendary founders of Rome, were found and raised by the she-wolf. As well as fantastic views over the forum and city, Palatine Hill has some of the city’s most important archaeological ruins including temples, villas and palaces. It's where many emperors and wealthy Romans resided. 

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The Greek capital was also the birthplace of theatre and the remains of some of the earliest theatres. The Herodion theatre (pictured) was constructed by Greek nobleman Herodes Atticus on the slopes of the Acropolis in AD 161. But the Theatre of Dionysus is even more ancient – in fact, it’s the world's first theatre. Built into southern cliff in the 6th century BC, the most famous playwrights of the classical era – Aeschylus, Sophocles, Euripides among them – had their works performed here. 

Discover what to see and do in modern day Athens with our guide here

Head to Tikal National Park in northern Guatemala to get to the heart of the country’s enigmatic Mayan Empire. It’s thought a civilisation of around 150,000 Mayans inhabited the dense jungle, building their incredible and intricate structures including temples, palaces and plazas and their famous stone pyramids. The population was at its peak in AD 800, but collapsed just 200 years later. Tikal was entirely abandoned by AD 1000. 

Ancient capital of the kings of the Achaemenian dynasty, the UNESCO World Heritage Site Persepolis is one of the most incredible ancient Persian treasures. Constructed during the rule of King Darius the Great (who reigned 522-486 BC), the city was actually called Parsa. Persepolis is the Greek name meaning Persian City. It was a wealthy and beautiful city, until Alexander the Great sacked and looted it in 330 BC.

Mexico is also dotted with incredible ancient Mayan sites, including the renowned Chichén Itzá. As the political and economic hub of the civilisation between AD 750-1200, its extensive ruins have revealed many secrets of the ancient Mayans, most notably their astounding astronomical, design and mathematical skills. The complex of grand pyramids and temples on the Yucatán Peninsula is also home to the biggest ancient ball court ever found. Other notable Mayan sites are Tulum, Uxmal and Calakmul.

The gigantic pyramids of Giza have stood on the edge of the desert plateau near Cairo for nearly five millennia. The oldest is the Great Pyramid, built around 2750 BC to entomb the pharaoh Khufu (Cheops). As the only remaining wonder of the ancient world, the pyramids cannot fail to amaze with their age and scale. To see the treasures of this far-reaching civilisation though, you must visit the Egyptian Museum in central Cairo. It is home to an astonishing collection of ancient Egyptian artefacts.

The sheer scale of the Karnak Temple Complex, near Luxor, is overwhelming. Especially when you consider that the site was created across a period of more than 1,500 years with over 30 pharaohs adding their vision to it. But persevere and you'll reap the rewards – many scholars consider Karnak to be the most impressive ancient site in Egypt. The temple of Amun, the complex's main structure, is the largest place of worship ever built. 

China is home to one of the world’s oldest civilisations and is rich in extraordinary and ancient treasures. Perhaps none more so than the entire army of terracotta warriors and horses that were buried with First Emperor Qin for more than 2,000 years before their excavation. The incredibly life-like army can now be seen at a museum which was built around the excavation site near Xi'an in central China. 

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The distinct figures, with their disproportionately giant heads, are thought to honour the Rapa Nui's ancestors. They are made out of volcanic rock, which was quarried on the island, and reach an average height of 13 feet. They mostly face inland, which is thought to signal guardianship of the land. Bizarrely, by the 18th century all the Moai had been toppled over. Some sources suggest it was a protest by the islanders following the arrival of Europeans or a civil war. They've since been restored. 

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One of the most famous ancient cities in the world, thanks to its immortalisation by Greek poet Homer in the Iliad, Troy is one of Turkey’s many historic treasures. Though made famous by the Greeks, the extraordinarily ancient site in northwestern Anatolia has a history that reaches back over 4,000 years. Archaeologists have discovered clues that the site has been home to numerous civilisations.  

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Ephesus was once one of the wealthiest and important cities in the Greco-Roman world. Set near the modern town of Selçuk in western Turkey, the ruins of this absorbing site includes an elaborate library (pictured), theatre and Curetes Street, which is lined with triumphal arches and crumbling statues. The city was famed in the ancient world for its enormous Temple of Artemis, which was one of the seven wonders of the world. Now only the foundations remain.

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