At its zenith, the Roman Empire stretched around the Mediterranean and into Northern Europe and North Africa. The Romans were ruthless empire builders who would stop at nothing to subjugate their neighbors. But they were also skilled engineers who built impressive forts, amphitheaters, public baths, aqueducts, and roads. Two thousand years on, many of these structures still survive, their ruins sufficiently intact for us to appreciate their original function. There’s no better place to admire them than in the place that was its epicenter, so let’s take a look at some of the most spectacular Roman architecture in Italy. 

The Colosseum – Rome

Fittingly, the Colosseum is the largest amphitheater the Romans ever constructed. The oval-shaped arena (also referred to as the Flavian Amphitheater) measures 620 feet long and 512 feet across and once hosted gladiator fights, dramas, and battle reenactments, among other spectacles. The structure, which dates to 80 CE, remains mostly intact today largely due to its strong concrete foundation.

The arena towers four stories high above a hypogeum (underground area). The Romans built the lowest three levels with arches and columns, which became more elaborate as they went up — Tuscan-style columns give way to Ionic columns and Corinthian columns, the most intricate of all. The fourth floor consisted of flat carved panels inlaid with azurite and bronze. The facade was covered with travertine blocks, a locally quarried limestone also used to construct tiered seating for the 80,000-strong audience.

The Pantheon – Rome

Though the columns that adorn the portico of this magnificent temple are unmistakably Greek in style, the dome of this temple is a triumph of Roman engineering. Earlier versions of the Pantheon were destroyed during the Great Fire of Rome in 80 CE and as the result of a lightning strike in 110 CE. The building that we see today, commissioned by Emperor Hadrian, was constructed out of concrete faced with brick between 118 and 125 CE. 

Historians have long been fascinated by the dome, which remains the largest unsupported concrete dome in the world. They believe that laborers graded the material used in its construction so that the heaviest material — basalt and travertine — was used at the base, while lighter materials such as tufa and pumice are used higher up, where the structure is also thinner.    

Villa dei Quintili – Roman Suburbs

One of the earliest Roman roads, the Via Appia Antica led south from Rome to Brindisi. Along the way were the villas of the elite, the largest of which was Villa dei Quintili, built during the second century CE. 

The villa was owned by two brothers, Sesto Quintilio Condiano and Sesto Quintilio Valerio Massimo, both consuls. After they led a plot against Emperor Commodus, the property was confiscated and became an imperial residence, which may explain why the architecture was so grand. The complex boasted impressive thermal baths, including a caldarium (hot bath) and frigidarium (cold bath) fed by its own aqueduct. The most recent discoveries at the site include a winery and triclinium (formal dining room). 

Anfiteatro Campano – Santa Maria Capua Vetere

Ancient Capua was the place where Julius Caesar founded the first gladiatorial school and where the enslaved Spartacus rose up and led the rebellion that kicked off the Third Servile War. Around 100 CE, the four-story Anfiteatro Campano was built to replace an earlier arena. Some historians have suggested that the Colosseum in Rome might have been modeled on this Capua landmark, which was a similar size and also elliptical in shape. 

Here, though, the centuries haven’t been as kind, and the building has suffered at the hands of invaders and those who came to plunder its stone. Nevertheless, there’s enough of a structure left to be able to imagine what the amphitheatre might have looked like in its prime.

Villa Romana del Casale – Sicily 

Villa Romana del Casale, located at Piazza Armerina in central Sicily, was built circa 320 CE. Thanks to a catastrophic 12th-century landslide, it boasts what many historians agree are the best preserved Roman mosaics anywhere in the world. They paint a vivid picture of what life would have been like back then for the fabulously wealthy, though the identity of the villa’s owner remains a mystery. 

Even under its modern protective roof, visitors can appreciate the villa’s architecture. The house was a single-story construction built around a garden flanked with a colonnaded peristyle. The mosaics that have been painstakingly uncovered were most likely the work of North African artisans. They feature scenes variously depicting fishing Cupids, dancing women, horse races, and animal hunts. 

House of the Vettii – Pompeii

In 79 CE, a violent eruption of Mount Vesuvius sent superheated pyroclastic flows surging toward the town of Pompeii. The hot gas in the air asphyxiated residents and buried their homes, public buildings, and streets in a thick layer of ash and fragments of volcanic glass. Centuries of excavation and analysis by archaeologists have uncovered many buildings that have been remarkably well preserved in the ash. 

One of the most famous is the House of the Vettii, a typical Roman townhouse or domus. Evidence from seals and tablets suggest the owners were a pair of wealthy, formerly enslaved brothers who made their fortune as merchants. Following extensive restoration work, the splendor of this grand mansion is plain to see, from the colorful frescoes that adorn its interior to the colonnaded garden replete with fountains and statuary. 

The Fornices of Herculaneum – Herculaneum

The 12 vaulted fornices of Herculaneum provide an insight into the day-to-day activities that would have taken place in this town about 12 miles north of Pompeii almost 2,000 years ago. This row of arched boat sheds close to the shoreline survived the eruption of Vesuvius, yet when archaeologists began excavating the site in 1980, they found the skeletons of around 300 residents of Herculaneum who sheltered here in a failed attempt to escape the lava flow. The carbonized remains of a boat found nearby is on display at the archaeological site and the ancient beach itself is also now open to visitors. 

By the late Victorian period during the second half of the 19th century, American architecture had entered a new era. Styles such as Queen Anne, Victorian Gothic, Stick-Eastlake, Second Empire, and Renaissance Revival — all commonly held to be examples of Victorian architecture — were more ornate in design than those that had preceded them. In the U.S. today, many buildings blend elements from more than one of these styles, their architects looking to history for inspiration yet adapting their designs to the tastes of the time. The result is worth traveling for: Here are five spectacular examples of Victorian architecture that you’ll want to see with your own eyes.

The Painted Ladies – San Francisco, California

As a result of the 1849 gold rush, the population of San Francisco increased dramatically, fueling a housing boom. As new homes were built, the elaborate Queen Anne style of architecture became popular during this time, and the city’s most famous examples are the Painted Ladies, built between 1892 and 1896. 

These ornate row houses, located on Steiner Street across from Alamo Square Park, were the work of Matthew Kavanaugh, who lived at No. 722. There were other examples of similar houses at the time, but many were destroyed by the devastating fire that engulfed San Francisco following the 1906 earthquake. In the 1960s, the city decided to paint these properties to accentuate their signature architectural details — such as gable ends, overhanging eaves, covered porches, and lacy woodwork — turning them into one of the most photographed spots in the city today.

1892 Bishop’s Palace – Galveston, Texas

1892 Bishop’s Palace (also known as Gresham House or Gresham’s Castle) is a much-loved landmark in Galveston’s East End Historic District. Attorney and railroad executive Walter Gresham commissioned architect Nicholas Clayton to design it. Clayton opted to build a solid structure out of steel and stone, which took five years to construct between 1887 and 1892. 

The decision turned out to be a wise move when the Great Storm of 1900 barreled through Galveston. This powerful hurricane caused extensive damage to the city, but fortunately, the house survived. Today, its turreted exterior — coupled with the intricately carved wood, stained glass windows, and vaulted ceilings of its interior — make it one of the most notable examples of Victorian architecture in the state.  

Shelton McMurphey Johnson House – Eugene, Oregon

Shelton McMurphey Johnson House is another beautiful example of Queen Anne architecture, which typifies the Victorian period. Dubbed the “Castle on the Hill” because of the panoramic views it enjoys, the house gets its official name from those who lived in it. Winthrop Shelton and his family were the first to occupy the house in 1888, a year later than planned after the original structure was set alight by a workman with a grudge and had to be rebuilt. 

Many of its features reflect the love of ornate design that characterizes Victorian architecture, among them a polygonal tower, bay windows, open porch, and carved exterior woodwork. Today, visitors can tour the first floor and explore its sitting room, parlor, kitchen, and dining room to get a sense of what it might have been like to live there more than a century ago. 

St. Peter’s By-The-Sea Episcopal Church – Cape May, New Jersey

The delightful St. Peter’s By-The-Sea is a well-preserved example of Stick-Eastlake architecture. White stick detailing complements the pretty pastel blue siding of this Episcopal church, which is nicknamed the “Gingerbread Church” for the gingerbreadlike skirt below the clerestory. 

The original structure was actually erected as part of the 1876 Centennial Exposition in Fairmount Park, Philadelphia. In need of a building to house his congregation, Reverend W.R. Stockton purchased it three years later and transported it to Cape May Point, where it was named St. Peter’s By-The-Sea. The church has been moved several times since then: In 1881, it was located close to the sea on the corner of Cape Avenue and Beach Drive, but 15 years later it was moved inland because of coastal erosion. It has stood on its present site since 1903.

Hotel Florence – Chicago, Illinois

Hotel Florence forms part of Chicago’s Pullman National Historical Park, together with Greenstone Church and the former Pullman Palace Car Works shops and administration building. George Pullman, inventor of the Pullman sleeping car, commissioned the 50-room property, which he named after his daughter. The work of architect Solon Spencer Beman, it was built in 1881 to accommodate railroad executives visiting the company town of Pullman. 

The four-story structure is unmistakably of its time, boasting red brick walls, dormer windows, a slate roof with a steep pitch, and a wraparound wooden porch. Inside, it’s clear to see where some of the $100,000 it cost to build (more than $3 million in today’s dollars) was spent, from the cherry wood lavished on the first floor to the luxurious Pullman Suite, reserved for George Pullman’s exclusive use.   

Many of America’s former presidents chose to live in luxury when they weren’t confined to the walls of the White House. Check out eight of the most impressive and beautiful personal homes of former U.S. presidents, from stately brick abodes to oceanfront retreats.

Theodore Roosevelt’s Sagamore Hill Mansion – Cove Neck, New York

Now a National Historic Site, Theodore Roosevelt’s rustic Long Island mansion was his home from 1885 until his death in 1919. Set on 83 acres, the 23-room Victorian-style estate includes 15 bedrooms, a library rumored to hold 10,000 books, a great hall, and a trophy room. Wraparound porches offer sweeping views of Oyster Bay, where Roosevelt and his family often spent their days relaxing, entertaining, or simply enjoying the outdoors, one of the “conservation president’s” greatest passions. 

During Roosevelt’s presidency, Sagamore Hill doubled as a “Summer White House,” hosting diplomats, journalists, and foreign leaders. Rather than being flashy or luxurious, the estate stood out for its size, rugged charm, and modernity for the time, with indoor plumbing and central heating.

The Bush Family’s Walker’s Point Estate – Kennebunkport, Maine

Walker’s Point Estate has been in the Bush family since 1902, when George Herbert Walker (former President George H.W. Bush’s grandfather) and his father, David Davis Walker, purchased the sprawling oceanfront property in southern coastal Maine. They each built large homes at the tip of a peninsula overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. In 1921, George added a bungalow as a wedding gift for his daughter Dorothy. In 1977, George H.W. Bush purchased the property to ensure it stayed in the family, and the estate has served as a summer retreat (aka the “Summer White House”) for generations ever since. 

Over the years, Walker’s Point has hosted weddings, parties, and world leaders in the former president’s living room. The homes are built in classic New England shingle-style architecture, with the main house featuring nine bedrooms, multiple sitting rooms, a library, an office, a dining room, and numerous patios and decks. The property also includes a four-car garage, swimming pool, tennis court, private dock, and even a small sports field set amid Maine’s pristine nature. 

Franklin D. Roosevelt’s Springwood Estate – Hyde Park, New York

Franklin D. Roosevelt’s Springwood Estate in Hyde Park, New York, was more than a home — it was where the 32nd U.S. president was born, grew up, and lived throughout his life. Originally purchased by his father, James Roosevelt, in 1866, the estate passed to his mother, Sara, and remained in the family. Two years after Sara’s death in 1941, FDR arranged for Springwood to be donated to the federal government, with the National Park Service taking over after his own passing in 1945. 

Set upon a bluff overlooking the Hudson River, Springwood Estate is a study in early 20th-century elegance, with gardens, wooded paths, and a family cemetery in which Roosevelt himself is buried. Inside are multiple bedrooms, formal living spaces, and a library filled with FDR’s books and personal collections. Over the decades, the estate welcomed family, friends, and world leaders, and today Springwood is a National Historic Site, open to the public for a glimpse into FDR’s remarkable life.

The Kennedy Compound – Cape Cod, Massachusetts

It’s no surprise that the Kennedys, a family deeply rooted in Massachusetts, chose to make this stunning stretch of coastline their home. In 1928, Joseph P. Kennedy purchased a summer property on Hyannis Port, which had originally been a rental. Joseph, who had nine children — including future U.S. President John F. Kennedy — expanded the property into what is now known as the Kennedy Compound. 

The 6-acre waterfront estate consists of three houses. For decades, the grounds were a place of family gatherings and celebrations, and served as the “Summer White House” from 1961 to 1963 during JFK’s time in office. Beyond its political importance, the compound has been the site of marriages, births, election watch parties, political meetings, and a retreat for President Kennedy, who often visited to walk on the beach when faced with tough decisions. The site has since been transformed into a museum and designated a National Historic Landmark. 

Richard Nixon’s Oceanfront Estate – San Clemente, California

A native of Southern California, President Nixon attended Duke Law School, practiced law in California, and served as a state senator before moving to Washington, D.C., and winning the presidency in 1969. That same year, he purchased a stunning 5.5-acre property in San Clemente, an hour from his hometown of Yorba Linda. 

While close to his roots, the property was a far cry from his modest beginnings. Boasting 450 feet of prime beachfront and sweeping views of the Pacific Ocean, the estate was nicknamed “La Casa Pacifica.” Also known as the “Western White House,” it served as Nixon’s sanctuary, and the former president made it his permanent residence after his infamous resignation following the Watergate scandal in 1974. 

Built in 1927, the 9,000-square-foot Spanish Colonial Revival home features expansive terraces perfect for taking in the ocean vistas. Additional amenities include a pool, tennis courts, a bar, an entertainment room, and a two-bedroom guest house.

The Clinton Compound – Chappaqua, New York

Former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s home in Westchester County offers a peaceful and comfortable escape from nearby New York City. The couple purchased the main Dutch Colonial home on the property for $1.7 million in 1999, when Bill was still in the Oval Office. Sitting on 1.1 acres and shrouded by trees, the house offers plenty of space across its three stories, including five bedrooms and four bathrooms, as well as an outdoor pool and a detached barn, which serves as a base for the Clintons’ Secret Service team. 

Although the main house was constructed in 1889, it has been significantly updated, with land and building records showing the Clintons spent several hundred thousand dollars on improvements. In 2016, they also purchased the neighboring property, a 3,631-square-foot ranch-style house on 1.5 acres, which is rumored to serve as a summer getaway for their daughter, Chelsea.

Barack Obama’s Brick Mansion – Washington, D.C.

After leaving office, the Obamas chose to call their Kalorama Heights property in Washington, D.C., their permanent home. Located 2 miles from the White House, the neighborhood has welcomed many former presidents and is currently the home of Jeff Bezos, Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump, news anchor Chris Wallace, and other celebrities. 

Former President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama  purchased the four-story, 8,200-square-foot brick mansion for $8.1 million in 2017. The elegant home boasts nine bedrooms, eight and a half baths, two kitchens, and an inviting backyard patio and garden. The Obamas also made some renovations when they became the homeowners, including converting the garage into an office and building a brick wall around the grounds for added security. 

Joe Biden’s Lakefront Property – Greenville, Delaware

In 1996, former President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden built a 6,850-square-foot lakefront home on 4 acres of land in Greenville, Delaware. Designed by Biden himself, the house has since become the couple’s primary residence and the place the former president returned to after leaving the White House in early 2025. 

Located in a quiet, wooded suburb about 4 miles from Wilmington, the home features three bedrooms, 4.5 bathrooms, a swimming pool, and a spacious, wood-paneled office furnished with overstuffed leather chairs and Biden’s original Senate desk. One of the home’s standout features is the expansive back porch, which overlooks a 10-acre human-made pond. During the 2020 election, Biden campaigned from his basement, using it as a virtual event hub, and after the election, he hosted several world leaders here, including the prime ministers of Australia, Japan, and India.

Airports connect millions of passengers to domestic and international destinations every day. The first airports opened in the early 1900s and ushered in a new era of global connectivity. While many airports continue to operate and grow, others have become ghostly relics. These airports lay abandoned due to a number of factors, from economic downturns to political turmoil, shifting travel trends, and poor planning, but some have been reimagined as inventive urban spaces. Discover tales of ambition and decline as you explore these seven abandoned airports around the world. 

Floyd Bennett Field – New York, New York

Inaugurated in 1931 on the shores of Jamaica Bay in Queens, Floyd Bennett Field was the first municipal airport in New York City. Named after a pioneering naval aviator, the airport became synonymous with record-breaking feats. In 1931, Russell N. Boardman and John Polando flew a then-record 5,011.8 miles from the airport to Istanbul without refueling. In 1933, Wiley Post landed here after completing the first solo round-the-world flight. 

Nowadays, the airport is part of the Gateway National Recreation Area. The old administrative and passenger terminal building has been restored and serves as a reminder of the golden age of aviation. Among the 1,300 acres of grasslands, salt marshes, and tidal flats that encompass the airfield, popular activities include biking, boating, bird-watching, fishing, and snowshoeing in winter. 

Ciudad Real Central Airport – Ciudad Real, Spain

The story of Ciudad Real Central Airport began during Spain’s construction boom in the early 2000s. The goal for the new airport, which opened in 2009 at the cost of over 1 billion euros,  was to take some of the traffic load off Madrid Barajas International Airport. Situated in Spain’s La Mancha region, about 135 miles south of Madrid, Ciudad Real Central Airport was designed to initially handle around 2 million passengers, with the idea to expand to an annual capacity of 10 million. 

However, in part because of its location far from the city center, just two airlines began flights at the new airport, and it closed in 2012 due to lack of demand and other economic pressures. Today, the derelict yet futuristic buildings look as if they’ve been lifted out of a scene from a postapocalyptic science fiction movie. Proposals have since been submitted to turn the 3,050-acre site and its 2.5-mile-long runway into an aeronautical maintenance site. 

Croydon Airport – London, United Kingdom

From London Gatwick to London Heathrow, the United Kingdom is home to some of the world’s most iconic airports. The U.K.’s first international airport, though, was London Croydon Airport. Opened in 1920 in the South London town of Croydon, it went on to host several aviation milestones. Air traffic control was pioneered here, as was Britain’s national airline Imperial Airways (a precursor to British Airways). The airport also featured the world’s first purpose-built passenger terminal. 

Croydon Airport was eventually replaced by its larger counterparts and closed in 1959, but today it is home to the Croydon Airport Visitor Centre. Guests can join a guided tour to visit the control tower and browse exhibits of aeronautical artifacts. Outside is a replica of the de Havilland DH.114 Heron propeller plane that flew the final passenger flight from the airport.

Hellinikon International Airport – Elliniko, Greece

Hellinikon International Airport, built in 1938, sits on a narrow strip of land between the Aegean Sea and the Hymettus mountain range. Initially a military airfield, it later became the principal international airport serving Athens. Hellinikon was abandoned and replaced by the larger Athens International Airport in 2001, though it was briefly revived for the 2004 Athens Summer Olympics. 

The space around the airport has since been converted into the Ellinikon Experience Park, a sustainable urban park incorporating three former Air Force hangars. It features exercise stations, a Zen garden filled with Mediterranean flora, and an aviation-themed forest playground and splash park with choreographed jets for families. 

Kai Tak International Airport – Hong Kong

The former Kai Tak International Airport is infamous among aviation enthusiasts. Surrounded on three sides by water and framed by the high-rise towers of Hong Kong’s Kowloon City, it was notorious for its technically demanding takeoffs and landings. Despite this, it was Hong Kong’s main flight hub from 1925 until 1998. Operations moved to the newly built Hong Kong International Airport on the island of Chek Lap Kok after Kai Tak outgrew its 24 million annual passenger capacity. 

The airport site is now part of the Kai Tak Development. This ongoing project will eventually include a cruise terminal, parks, and commercial and residential properties. The old runway has already been reimagined as the Kai Tak Sky Garden. Stretching for almost a mile, the raised, landscaped deck is split into four zones themed around the seasons and has several public plazas with educational and entertainment spaces.

Pearls Airport – Grenada

Opened in 1943, Pearls Airport was the first commercial airport in Grenada. It sits on the northeastern side of the island, about 20 miles from the capital, St. George. Flights operated here until 1983, when the U.S. military invaded the island. 

At the time, there were two planes grounded here — a Cuban aircraft and an aircraft gifted to the island from the Soviet Union. After operations were moved to a new airport in St. George, Pearls Airport and the aircraft were left abandoned. Nowadays, nature and grazing cows have taken over the runway and the planes have fallen into disrepair. Visitors can walk around the grounds and explore the planes inside and out.

Tempelhof Field – Berlin, Germany

The history of Berlin’s Tempelhof Field (Tempelhofer Feld in German) can be traced back to the 13th century, when the area was used by the Knights of Templar. In 1883, German aviator Otto Lilienthal conducted one of the first-ever aviation demonstrations at the site. With the construction of a passenger terminal, it became a full-fledged airport in the 1920s and was later integral to the Berlin Blockade of 1948 to 1949. 

Flight operations ended in 2008 to make way for the construction of Berlin Brandenburg International Airport. The site was converted into one of Berlin’s most-loved public parks and recreation areas. Today, it’s a popular location for biking, skating, windsports, boules, football, and other activities. There’s also an interpretive history trail, nature experience programs, an art gallery, and a community garden. In addition, theatrical performances, sporting competitions, and guided tours take place throughout the year.