There are some cities that are history itself, not only with their stones and streets, but also with their souls! These cities, whose roots go back thousands of years and have witnessed the birth and collapse of civilizations, are still standing tall and continue to live.
Are you ready? We’re travelling through time! But this is no ordinary journey. The stops waiting for us are the cities where humanity has continued to live for thousands of years, cities that have emerged from the pages of history books and reached our day! Yes, some of the oldest cities where people have been living for thousands of years were founded thousands of years ago, witnessed the birth of civilizations, hosted empires and are still standing! Imagine a city where the stone walls whisper stories of thousands of years ago as you walk through the streets, and the smell of spices rising from the old markets carries echoes of the past. Now, leave the dusty pages of history aside and get ready to discover how these legendary cities have survived to the present day! From Jericho to Athens, Damascus to Gaziantep, past and present are intertwined in this fascinating journey. Here are the oldest cities where people continue to live…
Jericho, Palestine
Now hold on tight! This place is not just old, it is literally one of the places where history began! Jericho has a history of 11,000 years and is considered to be the oldest settlement in the world.
Rising in the warm lands of the Jordan Valley, this city is a pile of historical layers built one on top of the other by 23 different civilisations! Imagine, countless people have lived on these lands for thousands of years, wars have been fought, empires have been built and destroyed.
When archaeologists discovered stone walls and towers dating back to 9000 BC, they realised that this was not just a simple village, but an organised society. In other words, even in the conditions of that time, there was a developed urbanization here! Today, Jericho is a quiet town of 20,000 inhabitants. But it is impossible not to feel the traces of the past while walking on those stone streets!
Damascus, Syria
Damascus, a continuous settlement for more than 5000 years at the junction of Asia and Africa! This city, which has been under the influence of Hellenistic, Roman, Byzantine and Islamic Empires throughout history, is the crossroads of civilisations. The heart of trade routes, the meeting point of different cultures and even the birthplace of many legends!
You cannot come here and not see the Great Mosque of Damascus! Dating back to the 8th century AD, this gigantic mosque is one of the greatest witnesses of the city’s glorious history. Today, Damascus continues to live as a dynamic city, home to around 2.6 million people. Times are changing, but Damascus still attracts people with the same magic!
Biblos, Lebanon
If you can read and write today, you owe it to the city of Biblos! Founded as a small fishing village around 5000 BC, Biblos turned into a large harbour city in 3000 BC. The Phoenician alphabet developed by the Phoenicians in this city is considered the ancestor of the Latin alphabet we use today!
Biblos, where countless civilisations from Ancient Egypt to the Roman Empire, from the Ottoman Empire to modern times, has left its mark, is a small but historically huge settlement with a population of 100,000. If you are interested in history, you can’t miss this place!
Aleppo, Syria
Now we turn our route to Aleppo, one of the oldest and most magnificent cities of the Middle East! Dating back to 3000 BC, this city played a major role in history as one of the most important stops on the Silk Road.
Many civilisations from Hittites to Persians, Babylonians to Ottomans ruled here. Aleppo Castle, rising in the centre of Aleppo, is a timeless symbol of this city! Unfortunately, Aleppo has also witnessed the wars of the modern era and suffered great damage. However, despite all this, it still stands as one of the most important parts of Syria’s cultural heritage.
Susa, Iran
Founded around 4200 BC, Susa was the capital of the Elamite, Persian and Pars empires, meaning that it remained the centre of a great civilisation for thousands of years!
The ruins of the Achaemenid palaces here reveal how powerful Susa was once. Even mentioned in the Bible, this ancient city has not only historical but also religious significance. Today, the area of ancient Susa is known as Shush and remains one of the most important historical sites in Iran.
Fayyum, Egypt
One of the oldest settlements in Egypt, Fayyum dates back to 6000 years ago! The ancient Egyptians called it ‘Shedet’, while the Greeks found a slightly cooler name: ‘Crocodilopolis’! Yes, the ‘City of Crocodiles’! The reason for this is the worship of the crocodile god named Sobek, who is considered sacred here.
Well, only crocodiles? Of course not! Fayyum was the heart of agriculture and trade during the Ancient Egyptian period. It continued to develop during the Middle Kingdom and Roman periods. Today, it is still one of the most important cultural centres of Egypt with a population of 433.000 people. If you are interested in history, the ancient ruins here will take you on a journey through time!
Athens, Greece
We continue our list of the oldest cities where people have been living for thousands of years. Athens, the capital of Greece, appeared on the stage of history in 3000 BC and became a power centre during the Mycenaean Civilisation. But the real bomb explodes in the 5th century BC: Democracy was born here! Philosophy? Art? Science? This is where geniuses such as Socrates, Plato and Aristotle grew up and where the Parthenon, one of the most important temples of the world, rose. The story of thousands of years is hidden in the stones of the Acropolis! Today, Athens is still the cultural and historical capital of Greece with a population of over 3 million. If you happen to visit one day, it will be really fascinating to walk on these lands where mythological gods set foot!
Plovdiv, Bulgaria
Plovdiv, located on the borders of today’s Bulgaria, is one of the oldest cities in Europe. The history of the city dates back to 4000 BC. Yes, you did not read it wrong!
Plovdiv was the centre of art, trade and entertainment during the Roman period. The ancient theatre and stadium here reveal the splendour of the period. As you walk through the streets of the city, you can see that Roman, Byzantine, Ottoman and modern European architecture coexist. Today Plovdiv is the second largest city and the cultural capital of Bulgaria. It offers a complete cultural mosaic with the art festivals organised every year!
Beirut, Lebanon
Beirut is not an ordinary city! Standing since 3000 BC, it harbours a history full of wars, earthquakes, invasions and rebirths. Mentioned in ancient Egyptian inscriptions, this city was a major colony in Roman times and ruins from that period are still hidden in its streets. But Beirut’s true strength has always been its ability to be reborn. It has been destroyed many times, but each time it has managed to rise from the ashes. Today, it is one of the most dynamic cities in the Middle East with a population of approximately 2.4 million. With its modern cafes, art galleries and historic streets, it remains a city of both the past and the present.
Gaziantep, Turkey
We have come to the end of our list of the oldest cities where people have been living for thousands of years. And here we are, another city that smells of history, and it is located in our country: Gaziantep! This place is famous not only for its food, but also for its history dating back to 3650 BC! Gaziantep has been home to many great civilisations such as the Hittites, Romans, Byzantines and Ottomans. Ancient ruins, mosaics and historical bazaars still standing whisper the past of this place.
But let’s face it, the first thing that comes to mind when you think of Gaziantep is baklava! This city, which is the homeland of pistachios, is known worldwide for its culinary culture registered by UNESCO. Today, with a population of more than 2 million, it is a city that continues to keep both its historical and cultural heritage alive.
