The Roman Empire’s Best-Preserved Buildings (Video)

Many of the best-preserved buildings of the Roman Empire are scattered across its former territories. In Rome, iconic structures like the Colosseum and the Pantheon remain remarkably intact. The Colosseum, built under Emperor Vespasian between AD 70 and 80, served as a fortification and a place of habitation in the Middle Ages. The Pantheon, completed around AD 125, is celebrated for its concrete dome and preserved interior, including original columns and niches.

The Baths of Diocletian, later converted into the church of Santa Maria degli Angeli by Michelangelo, and Trajan’s Markets, an administrative center and shopping complex, further reflect Roman architectural ingenuity. Beyond Italy, in Tunisia, the city of El Djem boasts a third-century amphitheater, Africa’s largest, still largely intact despite partial dismantling.

In Egypt, the Kiosk of Trajan stands as a reminder of the Romans’ reverence for local deities, while Jordan’s Qasr Bashir fortress and Lebanon’s Temple of Bacchus in Baalbek offer well-preserved glimpses of Roman life on the empire’s frontier. The massive structure of the Aula Palatina in Trier, Germany, built under Constantine, and Diocletian’s Palace in Split, Croatia, also remain remarkably well-preserved, with some parts repurposed for later use. These enduring structures provide insight into the grandeur and reach of Roman architecture.

Top image: Panoramic view of the Pantheon in Rome.    Source: Stefan Bauer/CC BY-SA 2.5

By Robbie Mitchell