| With Indiana Jones back in the cinemas once | | | | |
| more, an interest in ancient civilisations is | | | | You can reach Machu Picchu by train from |
| no longer confined to professors and | | | | Cusco, but for a really adventurous cultural |
| archaeologists. Indeed, cultural heritage | | | | heritage holiday you can walk the Inca Trail, |
| holidays are growing increasingly popular, | | | | a multi day hike through a number of Inca |
| with many AITO tour operators offering trips | | | | ruins that reaches Machu Picchu at sunrise on |
| that look at some of the most notable ancient | | | | the fourth day. |
| ruins in the world. While most of the great | | | | |
| monuments of ancient civilisations have been | | | | Great Pyramid of Giza, Egypt |
| eroded or destroyed, some still survive, and | | | | |
| visiting one of these sites is like going on | | | | Out of the Seven Wonders of the World listed |
| a holiday in ancient history. In addition to | | | | by the ancient Greek historian Herodotus, the |
| being spectacular structures in their own | | | | Great Pyramid of Giza is the only one that |
| right, they form an invaluable part of any | | | | can still be seen today on an ancient history |
| cultural heritage holiday, giving a glimpse | | | | holiday to Egypt. Built over 4500 years ago, |
| of a way of life that has long since | | | | the Pyramid was built as a tomb for the |
| disappeared. | | | | Egyptian pharaoh Cheops. It took over twenty |
| | | | years to construct, and was the tallest |
| If you fancy yourself as the next academic | | | | man-made structure in the world for several |
| adventurer and are considering a cultural | | | | thousand years. |
| heritage holiday abroad, here are five of the | | | | |
| most important places to visit around the | | | | Chichen Itza, Mexico |
| world. | | | | |
| | | | Cultural heritage holidays to Mexico |
| The Parthenon, Greece | | | | inevitably tour the ruins of ancient Mayan |
| | | | civilisation, and Chichen Itza is one of the |
| Anyone on a specialised classical Greece | | | | most important Mayan sites in Mexico. The |
| holiday will see many amazing sights, | | | | temple complex was built over 2000 years ago, |
| including the Temple at Delphi and the ruins | | | | and most of the buildings remain intact |
| of the Temple of Zeus at Mount Olympus. But | | | | today, including the Temple of Kukulkan, the |
| dwarfing them all is the Parthenon in Athens, | | | | Great Ball Court and the Temple of the |
| often regarded as the most important | | | | Warriors. It was the capital of Mayan |
| classical monument that is still standing | | | | civilisation for almost a thousand years - |
| today. It is an ancient temple to the goddess | | | | why Chichen Itza was abandoned is not known, |
| Athena, and is one of the finest examples of | | | | but archaeological research suggests its |
| ancient Greek architecture and artwork. The | | | | downfall was violent. The site is truly a |
| inside is a treasure trove of sculptures | | | | must-see for those with an interest in |
| (though much of its content now resides in | | | | ancient Mayan culture, with some of the best |
| the British museum), and the temple is placed | | | | preserved Mayan architecture left standing |
| in an unforgettable location on the | | | | today. |
| Acropolis, looking down over Athens. | | | | |
| | | | Coliseum, Italy |
| Machu Picchu, Peru | | | | |
| | | | Situated at the centre of Rome, this colossal |
| This "Lost City of the Incas" was only | | | | amphitheatre (the largest ever built in the |
| rediscovered at the beginning of the 20th | | | | ancient Roman empire) is almost 2000 years |
| century, and is an essential place to visit | | | | old. Originally known as the Flavian |
| for those interested in past civilisations. | | | | Amphitheatre, the Coliseum could hold over |
| Situated on top of a mountain above the | | | | 50,000 spectators, and hosted gladiatorial |
| Urubamba Valley in Peru, this excellently | | | | contests, performances and historical |
| preserved site is the one of the finest | | | | enactments. Despite damage from earthquakes |
| remaining examples of Inca architecture and | | | | and robbery, it has stood the test of time |
| has been voted one of the New Seven Wonders | | | | and remains one of the landmark sights for a |
| of the World. | | | | cultural heritage holiday to Italy. |