45 Ancient Ruins That Are Even More Stunning Than the Pyramids

33. Leptis Magna – Libya’s Forgotten Roman Jewel

Along the sun-bleached shores of Libya’s Mediterranean coast lies Leptis Magna—one of the grandest and best-preserved Roman cities outside of Italy. Once a thriving port and the hometown of Emperor Septimius Severus, Leptis Magna showcases the full ambition of Roman urban planning. Visitors can wander through vast forums, a stunningly intact amphitheater, market arcades, aqueducts, and the monumental Severan Arch. The site’s blend of Roman engineering and North African flair is especially striking in its ornate mosaics and the colonnaded streets flanked by olive trees and desert sands. Despite political unrest and its remote location, Leptis Magna remains largely untouched by mass tourism, offering an almost surreal experience—where travelers can walk in near solitude through a city that once bustled with imperial grandeur. It’s a place where the ghosts of Rome whisper through columns, and history feels remarkably close beneath your feet.