The 10 Oldest Cities on Earth

1. Gaziantep, Turkey ( 3650 B.C.? )

The capital city of Gaziantep Province informally known as Antep is the oldest city that's still standing, with a history dating back to the Hittites period. It was continually inhabited ever since the Paleolithic age, experiencing serius growth along with the Ottoman Empire.

 

 

 

 

 

2. Jerusalem, Israel ( 3000 B.C.? )

A holy city for three different religions - Judaism, Christianity and Islam, Jerusalem is the place where ancient values combine with modern culture to bring a fascinating metropolis. Jerusalem is divided into three parts- West Jerusalem, the rapidly developing commercial part of the city, East Jerusalem- home for the majority of the Arab population, and the old city- a truly breathtaking location, declared by UNESCO a world Heritage Site.

 

 

 

 

 

 

3. Kirkuk, Iraq ( 3000 B.C.? )

With archaeological remains that are over 5,000 years old, Kirkuk is an important city for the Kurdish identity and also the center of the Iraqi petroleum industry. While it may not be the most inviting tourist destination, Kirkuk stands on the site of the ancient Assyrian, once being the battlegrounds for three empires, Assyria, Babylonia, and Media that took turns controlling the city.

 

 

 

 

 

4. Zurich, Switzerland ( 3000 B.C.? )

Switzerland's biggest city and one of the oldest cities in Europe, Zurich was established in Roman times under the name Turicum. Traces of these times can be found throughout the Old Town - narrow streets filed with antique shops, boutiques and cafes. Shopping is concentrated around the famous Bahnhofstrasse, one of the most beautiful shopping streets in Europe.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

5. Konya, Turkey ( 2600 B.C.? )

Located 250 km from the Mediterranean Sea and 500 km from the Black Sea, at an altitude of over 1000 meters in the Anatolian steppe, Konya is one of Turkey's most fascinating cities, full of mosques and museums. One of the most popular museums is the Green Mausoleum of Mevlana Celaleddin Rumi, a great Turkish poet.

 

 

 

 

 

6. Giza, Egypt ( before 2568 B.C. )

"From atop these pyramids, forty century look down upon you." - Napoleon Bonaparte to his soldiers before the battle of Giza, 1798. Contrary to popular belief, Giza is a city in itself, but which got absorbed by the rapidly developing metropolis of Cairo. Giza's desert plateau will be part of the Grand Museum of Egypt, a project to be completed in 2012 that will replace the Egyptian Museum in Midan Tahrir.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

7. Xi'an, China ( 2205 B.C.? )

With a history of over 3000 years, the city is one of the most important in Chinese history, being one of the Four Great Ancient Capitals of China. Xi'an, the eternal city, enjoys fame equal to that of other famous cities such as Athens, Cairo, or Rome. Xi'an is one of the most valuable places to get a taste of ancient China and their traditions.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

8. Asyut, Egypt ( before 2160 B.C. )

Located 375 km south of Cairo, Asyut is the largest town in Upper Egypt and the first settled in Pharaonic times. Today, Asyut is the region's most important agricultural center and home of the third largest university in Egypt.The city has almost 400,000 inhabitants, having the highest concentration of Coptic Christians. It is said that Virgin Mary appeared in Asyut, an apparition even attested by the church.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

9. Luxor, Egypt ( before 2160 B.C. )

Luxor, previously known as the ancient city of Thebes, the glorious city of the God Amon Ra, has been a hot tourist destination since tourism began. The area started attracting tourists ever since the Greek and Roman periods. Luxor is one of the most popular cities in Egypt, its stars being the monuments of Luxor, Karnak, Hatshepsut and Ramses III.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

10. Lisbon, Portugal ( 2000 B.C.? )

Set on seven low hills, on the north banks of the River Tagus, Lisbon's charm is strongly linked the past. Lisbon was first inhabited by Iberian people, responsible for building the megaliths. After centuries of growing, Lisbon is now on of the liveliest cities in Europe. The renovated palaces, magnificient churches and Art Nouveau buildings are just a few of the things that make up the city's cultural heritage.

Source : Hotel Club Travel