Turkey: Laodicea
Getting slightly overloaded with ancient ruins? Here’s one more, equally spectacular to all previous – Laodicea. This ancient city was founded by Antiochos II of Syria around 250 BC, who named it after his wife Laodice. The city then became part of the kingdom of Perganum and then was taken over by the Romans, who developed it into one of the wealthiest cities in Asia Minor with its textiles and wool. The city was large and built up with many palaces and agoras and nyphaeums and temples and theaters and squares full of columned roads – many ruins are on full display. This also was one of the world’s centers of Christian community during the Byzantine times and a lot of church ruins remain here as well. The site is atmospheric and expansive and again – totally devoid of tourists.
