Ancient rock-cut architecture that will take you back in time

Ancient rock-cut architecture that take you back in time - Around the world you can find temples, caves, monasteries, houses, and even cities that have been carved from rock.

This type of architecture was used by ancient civilizations, and these locations can now be admired for their beauty and history.

Discover the most incredible stone-carved structures!

1 / 31 Fotos

Myra, Turkey - Myra was an ancient Greek city in Lycia, located 1.5 km north of the present town of Demre, in the province of Antalya.

2 / 31 Fotos

Myra, Turkey - The city has two monumental complexes of rock tombs: one in the Roman amphitheater and the other on a nearby hill.

3 / 31 Fotos

Longmen Grottoes, China - These caves contain numerous Buddhist statues. They are situated between two mountains: Xiangshan to the east and Longmen Shan to the west.

4 / 31 Fotos

Longmen Grottoes, China - The Longmen Grottoes consist of more than 2,000 caves and contain more than 10,000 Buddha statues. As well as being an amazing tourist attraction full of archaeological artifacts, the caves are listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

5 / 31 Fotos

Abu Simbel temples, Egypt - This archaeological complex in southern Egypt consists of two large rock-hewn temples. Theywere built during the long reign of Ramesses II and are a true archaeological treasure.

6 / 31 Fotos

Abu Simbel temples, Egypt - The temples are a UNESCO World Heritage site and they're definitely worth a visit. They still hide many mysteries to this day.

7 / 31 Fotos

Petra, Jordan - This archaeological site in the middle of the Jordanian desert is one of the most fascinating in the world. Petra was the capital of the ancient kingdom of Nabateu and it is believed that the region has been populated since prehistory.

8 / 31 Fotos

Petra, Jordan - Petra is home to numerous rock-cut buildings that fascinates tourists from all over the world. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is a true archaeological relic.

9 / 31 Fotos

Lalibela churches, Ethiopia - In the mountainous region of Lalibela you'll find 11 churches carved in rock. The churches are real historical treasures.

10 / 31 Fotos

Lalibela churches, Ethiopia - They were built by King Lalibela of the Zagwe dynasty. The temple of St. George, a monolith in the shape of a Greek cross, is the most imposing monument here.

11 / 31 Fotos

Ellora Caves, India - This place is a true outdoor museum. There are 34 artificial caves excavated along 2 km in the Charanandri hills, about 30 km from the city of Aurangabad.

12 / 31 Fotos

Ellora Caves, India - Here you can find 12 Buddhist, 17 Hindu, and five Jain caves. These stone treasures are very well conserved and fascinate tourists from all over the world.

13 / 31 Fotos

Yungang Grottoes, China - The Yungang Grottoes are a collection of 53 caves that have more than 50,000 rock-carved statues.

14 / 31 Fotos

Yungang Grottoes, China - Each grotto has a main statue of Buddha. The largest is 16.8 m high and the smallest is 13.5 m. The statues represent the first five emperors of the Northern Wei dynasty. Today, these caves are a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

15 / 31 Fotos

Göreme, Turkey - These incredible caves are in the town of Göreme, a historical and tourist region of Cappadocia.

16 / 31 Fotos

Göreme, Turkey - Here you'll find the Göreme national park with its incredible cave sculptures. There are still vestiges of monuments, chapels, alcoves, warehouses, and churches, many of them decorated with frescoes from the 11th and 12th centuries.

17 / 31 Fotos

Sassi di Matera, Italy - Sassi di Matera is the historical center of the Italian city of Matera. It is believed that the center, excavated in stone, has been inhabited since the Paleolithic period. it is impressive how well-preserved the site is given its age.

18 / 31 Fotos

Sassi di Matera, Italy - The stone center was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1993 for being the representation of an extraordinary urban ecosystem. Here, you can admire a real prehistoric treasure.

19 / 31 Fotos

Mesa Verde National Park, Colorado - This national park was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1978. It is located in Montezuma County, in the south-west of Colorado, and is home to a true archaeological gem.

20 / 31 Fotos

Mesa Verde National Park, Colorado - Discover the ruins of the Anasazi, an ancient Native American people. The area is well-known for its many dwellings carved into the cliffs.

21 / 31 Fotos

Mogao Caves, China - These caves are located on the outskirts of the Chinese city of Dunhuang and house the largest set of Buddhist art in the world.

22 / 31 Fotos

Mogao Caves, China - There are about 400 temples decorated with murals, where you can find thousands of sculptures, manuscripts, and other rock relics.

23 / 31 Fotos

Mada'in Saleh, Saudi Arabia - This archaeological site was an ancient city located north of Hejaz. Some of the inscriptions found in the area reportedly date back to before Christ. Some architectural elements are from the period of the Thamud and Lihyan civilizations.

24 / 31 Fotos

Mada'in Saleh, Saudi Arabia - In 2008, the archaeological site was listed a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Archaeology-lovers and tourists alike are amazed by this fascinating place.

25 / 31 Fotos

Vardzia, Georgia - Vardzia is a medieval monastery sculpted in a mountain in southern Georgia. It was built during the Queen Tamar reign, in 1185.

26 / 31 Fotos

Vardzia, Georgia - It is estimated that in the past it had more than 6,000 rooms spread over 13 floors, plus a church and a throne room. It houses fantastic medieval sculptures.

27 / 31 Fotos

Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument, New Mexico - Archaeological evidence suggests that this area has been inhabited for thousands of years.

28 / 31 Fotos

Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument, New Mexico - This fascinating place is a fine example of rock-cut architecture and it still hides many mysteries to this day.

29 / 31 Fotos

Bandelier National Monument, New Mexico - The Bandelier National Monument is located north of Albuquerque, New Mexico's state capital. It's another site filled with stone-carved sculptures.

30 / 31 Fotos

Bandelier National Monument, New Mexico - Here you'll find fascinating houses on cliffs, among majestic canyons where ancient Native American people lived.

31 / 31 Fotos

Ancient rock-cut architecture that will take you back in time

These spectacular ancient constructions are still standing

24/04/18 | StarsInsider

TRAVEL Architecture

Rock-cut architecture has been used by humans for thousands of years. Temples, houses, monasteries, tombs, and even entire cities were built by ancient civilizations using local stone and traditional methods. Many of these ancient sites are still standing to this day. Take a look at the most incredible stone structures!