Aspendos Ruins and Theater

About

Founded in the 10th century BC, Aspendos was an important harbour city in the Roman era, and went through a centuries-long decline when the Empire broke up. Today, the Aspendos Ruins and Theatre are a tentative UNESCO World Heritage Site, thanks in large part to the impossibly-well-preserved theatre. Even if you feel like you’ve seen everything antiquity has to offer, but “you have not seen the theatre of Aspendos.” Standing 315 feet tall, it’s a monumental example of Roman architecture that’s still used for music and drama festivals today. While the theatre is the main attraction, you can also walk up to the acropolis, where you can find the remains of several buildings, including a monumental nymphaeum. Just north of the acropolis, you can see the remains of the city’s aqueduct, with an impressive mountain backdrop.