From Ancient Rome to Modern Life: 10 Roman Ruins Still in Use Today

May 4th , 2024 CHIRANJIT MITRA CHIRANJIT MITRA

[{"selector":"#anim-16a7541f-52f9-498e-8210-09af21ed8009 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(8.524115182946408%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-920cba3e-1b66-4a29-b8f5-e9e31a55547c","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-8425e186-26a1-48bf-9084-6ff7e7354980","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] The Roman Empire left an indelible mark on the world. Discover their architectural legacy that continues to serve a purpose centuries later.

1: Pantheon, Rome, Italy

[{"selector":"#anim-6fa12525-14ee-4918-aabf-ece1f8095b98 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0, 0%, 0)","translate3d(0, 0%, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-afc997f3-659b-4eb1-a2de-0bcad154d2bb","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-f3f62c52-9cb9-4920-932c-edcb83c4700f","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-161bb243-0a12-4b00-af14-3d440e9581a2","keyframes":{"opacity":[1,1]},"delay":0,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-29b2eaed-bca8-4618-b682-9d874dc0f68e","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(3)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] Then & Now: Built as a temple to all gods, now a popular Catholic church and a tourist attraction.

2: Aqueduct of Segovia, Spain

[{"selector":"#anim-190d6350-5c6e-4b7f-b4b3-42928b31e77e [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(-2.964743652016505%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-7c92108f-a430-4297-9732-93e3a65a15cb","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-48e2dab6-b58d-4487-bb2d-cbfc345a1b2e","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-a7df3341-ec5d-4917-87b2-7a4d1cda1919","keyframes":{"opacity":[1,1]},"delay":0,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-91b46547-6fd7-466d-9a51-12e722be8695","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(3)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] Then and Now: It brought water to the city. Sections still functioned into the 20th century; now, they are a marvel.

3: Diocletian's Palace, Split, Croatia

[{"selector":"#anim-f2fbe5cb-72ae-4ac7-b32c-84f106187f39 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0, 5.660377358490562%, 0)","translate3d(0, 0%, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-3ce43e6e-8015-4f60-ae14-01b54dd5a97d","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-23154e48-ba91-4511-9198-7314792da222","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-69ad0eeb-28cd-440d-b9f4-aa7a43770b6d","keyframes":{"opacity":[1,1]},"delay":0,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-d86c296b-cce1-4207-b847-c998c165e5eb","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(3)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] Then & Now: Retirement home for an emperor, now forms the core of Split's old town, full of life.

4: Arena of Verona, Italy

[{"selector":"#anim-a12adf99-2473-4f64-bafd-f14d7e3483c0 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ecdefc86-b07c-4cd8-8d16-6f0a8055832a","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-a2b185fc-9872-4ee4-ab67-3e8d3c647b00","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-bf28e6df-9052-4e14-99bf-80eebafdbafd","keyframes":{"opacity":[1,1]},"delay":0,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-8d9a5302-a3ba-434c-8697-ff66b8eac8be","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(3)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] Then & Now: Hosted gladiatorial contests. Today, it stages world-class opera performances.

5: Roman Baths, Bath, England

[{"selector":"#anim-19c32b19-4ac0-48c0-be93-0ca73b34f45f","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-4448439f-85d8-48ff-bb38-c79dc22e8b0a","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-2dcf2b36-9701-46b6-b2d5-a09f896428d1","keyframes":{"opacity":[1,1]},"delay":0,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-53c03101-d6cb-40d7-8698-afc8242a0194","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(3)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ceb62772-c243-4a94-963d-6e602f6a6014 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-9.405879072367211%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] Then and Now: This is a luxurious bathing complex. The ruins are a museum, but modern spas tap into the same hot springs.

6: Pont du Gard Aqueduct, France

[{"selector":"#anim-f772058b-14ad-42ad-8da1-8ac28aff005e [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(32.20894468425916%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-dc6d66f7-95d7-496f-aa27-c3bfe7d09855","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-acd1b8c6-e9ee-4585-b415-ee2667a2fe33","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-3a68c97d-9056-4dd0-811e-c3eedca8fe3b","keyframes":{"opacity":[1,1]},"delay":0,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-fcfb60e9-677b-4064-a452-3ceb8956555e","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(3)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] Then and Now: The bridge carried water to Nîmes. Now a UNESCO site, the bridge portion was used by vehicles until recently.

7: Pula Arena, Croatia

[{"selector":"#anim-791afedc-3c38-4483-8f95-73526acf82ab [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-41.53461106280486%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-c6903005-8dee-4861-ae57-fbb038714650","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-7d15e2a1-ac22-4a9f-8fba-35672b719657","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ec884251-dc36-498d-a87d-b360855bc73f","keyframes":{"opacity":[1,1]},"delay":0,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b44f96c0-7ee4-4a7a-9c52-7788bbff8719","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(3)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] Then & Now: The smaller Colosseum still hosts concerts and events, proving that Roman design was built to last.

8: Tower of Hercules, Spain

[{"selector":"#anim-3cd35421-7838-4ad2-a1e5-8b0eb122d9e9 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-8.092002460771203%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-78d5e536-e749-4f43-bba7-06df38db68c5","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-89c89819-f138-41e0-b255-edf6ac87b2f9","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-74f2a124-283f-4b53-a7ac-f397268a7a34","keyframes":{"opacity":[1,1]},"delay":0,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-596df87a-da93-4b40-bfa4-09a6eed2ffe8","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(3)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] Then and Now: The World's oldest functioning lighthouse, originally Roman, with later renovations.

9: Curia Julia, Rome

[{"selector":"#anim-f57fe328-3a94-4e5b-ab05-33c037f5e713 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-26.45971082635954%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ce67190a-5360-41c6-9881-c8adc79902dc","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-690863be-3d8f-4e79-8f18-a8e02056ae0b","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-0d975493-c719-42f3-ba97-2c6ae4c0e696","keyframes":{"opacity":[1,1]},"delay":0,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-a3059822-34d2-4957-beab-18feb8577a69","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(3)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] Then & Now: Roman senate house, later a church. Still stands impressively in the Roman Forum.

10: Roman Theaters

[{"selector":"#anim-c3e067c9-bd02-4e1d-98d5-80e96effc28f [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-38.762996086445575%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-2c2bc0e6-a206-46b8-adf3-7070d7789d9e","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-00e51d5f-ef4a-48d5-8523-73a502f559cc","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-296c6775-83b2-43a6-ae08-247caf1b3d1a","keyframes":{"opacity":[1,1]},"delay":0,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-64b5a461-f091-4a56-a580-0d4cb727931e","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(3)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] Beyond Cities: Many Roman theaters across Europe occasionally host modern performances.