Ulpia Traiana Sarmizegetusa – Roman Town, Romania
Deep in the belly of the wonderful beast that is Transylvania, stumble over the ruins of the once-thriving Roman town of Ulpia Traiana Sarmizegetuza. If you’ve not brushed up on your Romanian history, the area that we now call Transylvania – as well as other parts of Romania – were once populated by the Dacian people. Part of a Roman emperor’s legacy was to conquer – and so, after a few skirmishes, in 101 AD, Emperor Trajan marched into Dacia and overthrew the Dacian king, Decebalus. (The conquest is commemorated by the victors on the now-famous Trajan’s Column in Rome). Once the Romans had installed themselves in Dacia, they did what they loved almost as much as conquering: they started to build. Roman towns, forts and outposts sprang up all over what was once Dacia. Ulpia Traiana Sarmizegetuza was the capital and the largest city of Roman Dacia. Named for the pre-Roman Dacian capital some 40-50 km away, Ulpia Traiana Sarmizegetuza was established quickly, becoming home to about 20,000 people, many of which were veterans of the war. Sarmizegetuza remained the political and religious epicentre of Roman Dacia for the next two centuries until its destruction by the Goths. Set in a beautiful location under the silhouette of the Retezat Mountains and hugged by lush green fields and meadows of vibrant wildflowers, it’s hard not to fall under the ruined city’s spell. Though largely razed, visitors can walk unimpeded through the ancient streets and houses, imagining what life was once like on Rome’s eastern frontiers. Stand in the centre of the oval ampitheatre, peek your head into the remains of the vaulted cellars, gaze upon the column bases, try your had at reading the Latin still carved on blocks of stone, wander the remnants of the forum, and reflect on life and death in the foundations of the old temple. There’s a museum there too, but even if you don’t get a chance to visit it, you’ll still get your dose of all things Roman simply by breathing the air, wandering the alleys and touching the stones carved 2,000 years ago.
Tip: If you’re arriving via the town of Hatag, keep an eye out for the extravagant Roma gypsy mansions. You haven’t seen anything like them!
More Romans
- Baths of Caracalla – Rome
- Aqueduct of Segovia – Spain
- Porta Palantina in Torino – Italy
- Bathhouse Mosaics of Bevagna – Italy
- The Colosseum – Rome
- Sagunto Roman Ampitheatre – Spain
- Theatre of Pompey – Rome
- Arena of Nimes – France
- Bath – England
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