Butrint, a Greek colony, Roman city, episcopal center, Byzantine outpost, and Venetian outpost in southern Albania, has a long history.
Because of its stormy past, Butrint has a mix of architectural styles from three millennia of Mediterranean history.A Christian tribute, the 6th-century Baptistery's floor mosaic is stunning.
This ancient Mayan city in southern Mexico near Guatemala is known for its sculptured stone lintels above doorways and windows with hieroglyphic texts about the area's dynastic history.
The 4th-century AD buildings are ornate. Stelee, stone monoliths with text or decoration, loom outside major structures.
Timgad, created by Trajan in AD 100 for retired soldiers, is the largest Roman colony in North Africa. The plateau is covered in arches, columns, and collapsing walls.
The city's massive 3,500-seat amphitheater is mostly intact. Approximately 3,000 papyrus rolls were formerly in the 3rd or 4th century AD library.
Ephesus, the Mediterranean's most complete Greco-Roman city, is on the western Turkish shore. Since the 10th century BC, the city has drawn traders, sailors, and pilgrims from throughout the world.