Top 10 Oldest Cities In Europe Where People Still Inhabited

Top 10 Oldest Cities In The World Where People Still Live

Top 10 Oldest Cities In The US With The Most Beautiful Sites

Top 10 oldest cities in Europe - Knowinsiders.com

What are the oldest cities in Europe?

Millions of history-minded tourists flock to Europe each year because it is home to some of the world's most significant historical sites. Some of Europe's oldest cities were founded as early as 20,000 B.C. and are still thriving today.

Most of the world's oldest cities are in the Middle East around the Fertile Crescent and are currently off-limits to tourists. However, Europe's oldest cities welcome visitors year-round.

Plovdiv, Athens, Chania, Lisbon, Chalcis, Cadiz, Patras, Nicosia, Seville, Malaga, and Rome are among Europe's oldest cities.

10. Chalcis, Greece

Chalcis in Greece

On the island of Euboea (Évvoia), in the periféreia (region) of Central Greece (Modern Greek: Stereá Elláda), is the city and dmos (municipality) of Chalcis, Modern Greek Khalks. The Gulf of Euboea is split in two by the narrowest point (in yards) of the Euripus (Evrpos) channel, which separates Euboea from the Greek mainland.

Chalcis first appears in writing in the Iliad (2.537), where it is mentioned alongside its rival city of Eretria. There is also evidence that ships bound for the Trojan War gathered on the south bank of the strait not far from the city, at a place called Avlis. Mycenaean chamber tombs were discovered in 1910 by Papvasileion at Trypa and Vromousa. Colonists from Chalcis established 30 settlements on the peninsula of Chalcidice and several significant cities on the island of Sicily in the 8th and 7th centuries BC. Not only did its minerals, metalwork, purple, and pottery find buyers among these communities, but the ships of Corinth and Samos carried them all over the Mediterranean.

9. Larnaca, Cyprus

Larnaca, Cyprus

Larnaca (Greek: ; Turkish: ; Iskele) is a port city in southeast Cyprus. Ancient Citium, established by the Mycenaeans in the 13th century BCE and rebuilt by the Byzantines, lies beneath the modern town on the bay between Capes Kiti and Pyla. Zeno of Citium, the father of Stoicism and a Greek philosopher, was born there. Its current name, which originates from the Greek for "funeral urn," alludes to the abundance of graves in the area. After the Turkish intervention (1974) in northern Cyprus shut down the island's main port at Famagusta, the modern port, developed during Ottoman occupation (1571-1878), was expanded.

The American Academy is one of Larnaca's most prestigious institutions of higher education (1908). The city's main church is named for Lazarus of Bethany, who is said to have settled there after Jesus' resurrection and become its first bishop. The regional museum, established in a 1625 Ottoman fortress, displays artifacts discovered during excavations in the region.

The Finikoudes Promenade is a popular destination for visitors to Larnaca, Cyprus. The pedestrian esplanade lined with palm trees is lined with shops, restaurants, bars, and cafes and is a major draw for visitors. in addition to the beautiful sandy beach with chairs, umbrellas, and clear water.

8. Kutaisi, Georgia

Photo: TripSavvy

Kutaisi sits on the Rioni River in the Imereti region of Georgia. The city of Kutaisi serves as the region of Imereti's capital. It ranks fifth among Europe's oldest cities and is one of the oldest in Georgia. Humans have lived in the city for thousands of years. Colchian culture, which dates back to the 15th to 13th centuries B.C., is confirmed to have existed in this area. Although ancient authors regarded it as the capital of the kingdom of Colchis, Kutaisi's written history only goes back to the third century BC (VIII BC).

Kutaisi is now the cultural and economic center of western Georgia. There are many cultural institutions, such as universities, art galleries, theaters, and museums. You can also have a good time in the city at its many restaurants, cafes, hotels, theaters, and other notable locations. Kutaisi's wealth of cultural and historical sites is a major draw for visitors. You will fall in love with Kutaisi for its many cultural and natural attractions, including the castle of Ukimerioni, Gelati, Bagrati Cathedral, and the city's natural beauty.

7. Thebes, Greece

Thebes, Greece

Central Greece (Modern Greek: Stereá Elláda) is home to the city and dmos (municipality) of Thebes (Modern Greek: Thva) (region). The city was one of the most influential in ancient Greece and is located to the northwest of Athens (Athna). Modern Thebes, with its commercial and agricultural hub, is perched atop the ancient city's acropolis. Modern Thebes is home to the Greek Orthodox Bishop of Thebes and Levádhia and is perched on a small ridge overlooking the surrounding plain. The nearby fertile plain is well irrigated thanks to the area's plentiful springs, the most famous of which was known in antiquity as Dirce.

The Greek city of Thebes doesn't take more than a day to see everything there is to see. This town doesn't have a lot of tourist attractions or things to do. Because of the town's diminutive size, fewer hotels are available. People often think about stopping here briefly en route to other cities. Stop here for a bite to eat and a rest from your travels.

The best things to do in the cities close to Thebes are listed here for your convenience. Now you know which neighboring city to visit for a memorable trip the next time you're in Thebes.

6. Athens, Greece

Photo: Gavel International

Greece's capital and largest city is Athens. Athens is the most important city in the Attica region and one of the oldest in the world, with a documented history stretching back more than 3,400 years to when humans first settled the area in the 11th or 7th millennium BC.

Athens is home to a vibrant cultural scene that takes place in and around landmarks that date back centuries or even millennia. Of course, a little thing called democracy ensures that the relics of Ancient Greece will receive the most attention. Oh, and there's also drama and philosophy and mythology. The thousand-year-old Byzantine churches, for example, which squat unruffled in the middle of streets and are attached to hillsides, should not be forgotten because they date back to the 'later' years. Both the architecture and the cuisine have Ottoman influences. And the 19th-century neoclassical design brings a touch of class to the interior.

What is the Oldest Spacecraft of NASA - Voyager 1

5. Patra, Greece

Photo: Agoda

King Patreas of Achaea, around 1100 B.C., inspired the city's naming of Patra, Greece's third largest city. There is little left to show for the three thousand years that this port served as a major hub for trade between the Mycenaeans and the Romans. Despite its seedier side, the city is home to charming plazas, bustling pedestrian streets, and a hip and happening nightlife scene.

Even though most visitors only stop in Patra to catch a ferry or cross the Rio-Andirio suspension bridge, an engineering marvel that connects the city to western continental Greece, the city's wonderful castle and archaeological museum, as well as the city's diverse dining options and lively nightlife, are well worth a longer stay.

4. Chania, Crete

Photo: Wikipedia

The Greek city of Chania serves as the regional capital of the same name. It is located on the northwestern coast of Crete, roughly 70 kilometers (43 miles) from Rethymno and 145 kilometers (90 miles) from Heraklion.

The population of the city proper is 108,642. (2011). Included in this are the municipalities of Chania, Kounoupidiana (8,620 inhabitants), Mournies (7,614), Souda (6,418 inhabitants), Nerokouros (5,531), Daratsos (4,732), Perivolia (3,986), Galatas (3,166 inhabitants), and Aroni (2,040 inhabitants) (pop. 3,003).

If you visit Chania, you will most likely end up staying longer than you planned due to its charming atmosphere, excellent cuisine, and beautiful harbor and historic buildings. excellent construction, among other things.

If you visit Crete, you will most likely visit one of two cities: Chania and Rethymnon.

Beautiful, in the sense that the majority of Chania's historic buildings, museums, churches, and artisan markets are conveniently located near the port (some with genuinely interesting and sometimes local, products on offer).

Chania's unique and beautiful scenery is the result of the harmonious coexistence of Venetian, Turkish, traditional, and modern architecture. Chania is a beautiful city that is full of archaeological sites, temples, squares, and one-of-a-kind buildings.

3. Plovdiv, Bulgaria

Photo: Intrepid Travel

Plovdiv, Bulgaria, the country's second-largest city, is located in the Thrace region on the banks of the Maritsa River. In 2018, there were 346,893 people living there, with an additional 675,000 in the metro area. In 2019, Plovdiv, Bulgaria, served as the European Capital of Culture. It plays a significant role in the global economy, transportation, culture, and academia. Plovdiv was originally called Philippopolis, after Philip II of Macedon, for the majority of its recorded history.

Plovdiv effortlessly blends modern nightlife with ancient monuments. Plovdiv, like Rome, is built on seven hills, but it is much older and has been continuously inhabited for much longer. The charming historic district is full of bright and creaky mansions from the nineteenth century that are now museums, galleries, and inns.

However, there's more to the tale than just quaint, National Revival-era architecture and sentimentality. Plovdiv, Bulgaria, the country's second-largest city and a cosmopolitan hub, is set to overtake Sofia as the European Capital of Culture in 2019. The city's renewed sense of optimism is thanks in part to the success of recent music and art festivals, as well as to the revitalization of the Kapana creative quarter and Tsar Simeon Gardens. Once merely a pleasant stopover en route to Greece or Turkey, the city has blossomed into a worthwhile stop on any tour of central Bulgaria.

2. Cádiz, Spain

Cádiz, Spain - Photo: Azamara

Cádiz, in southwestern Spain, is both a city and a port. Cádiz serves as the administrative center of the Cádiz Province, one of the eight that make up the Andalusian Autonomous Community.

Cádiz was founded by the Phoenicians and is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in Western Europe, with relics from the 8th century BC. Since the Spanish Bourbon dynasty took power in the 18th century, it has served as a major base of operations for the Spanish Navy. The University of Cádiz is also located here.

1. Argos, Greece

Argos in Greece

Argos has the honor of being Europe's oldest continually inhabited city. Although the town's population has fluctuated between 5,000 and 2,000 over the past century, the earliest signs of human habitation here date back to around 5,000 B.C. Archaeologists believe that the original inhabitants of this area constructed the settlement atop two prominent hills (Larissa and Aspis). I can't help but feel that Argos' once-great fame has waned over the centuries despite the city's historical significance.

The city's longevity likely stems from its status as a neutral zone. It stayed neutral during wars between other major Greek cities, and it didn't even take part in the Greco-Persian conflicts. Mycenaean tombs and theaters have survived to this day, along with the town's old town hall, the Larissa Castle (one of the oldest in Europe), and dozens of other historic buildings.

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