Global cities

A series of articles from BBC World Histories magazine in which historians explore the historical sites in cities around the world, helping you to plan your visit

The magnificent gilded Shwedagon Pagoda, claimed to be 2,500 years old, dominates central Yangon, Myanmar's largest city. (Patrick Foto/Getty Images)

Explore Yangon, Myanmar: City of Golden Pagodas

Colourful wooden houses in Old Nuuk, Greenland

Explore Nuuk: the rainbow capital of Greenland

The beautiful courtyard of the al-Qarawiyyin Mosque and university, founded in the 850's (Izzet Keribar/Getty Images)

General ancient history

Explore Fès, Morocco: Morocco’s spiritual capital

Thessaloniki's Rotunda of Galerius, Greece, built in the fourth-century by Roman occupiers

Explore Thessaloniki, Greece: Greece's cultural melting pot

The 17th-century church of Santi Luca e Martina overlooks the Arch of Septimius Severus in the Roman Forum

Explore Rome, Italy: the 'eternal city'

Plaza de Armas in historic center of Cusco, Peru

Explore Cusco, Peru: Navel of the Incan world

Notre Dame de la Major church, Arles

Explore Arles, France: 'Little Rome' of Provence

Brass band playing during Mardi Gras in Mew Orleans

Explore New Orleans, United States: Louisiana's 'big easy'

A cable car on San Francisco's Hyde Street. The network, established in the 1870s,is an ideal way to explore the city (Stefano Politi Markovina / Getty Images)

Explore San Francisco: the Golden City by the bay

With its grand mansion fronting almost 200 miles of waterways, St Petersburg often draws comparisons to venice (SergeyVButorin / Getty Images)

Explore St Petersburg, Russia: the Venice of the north

The medieval Akershus Fortress photographed by a lake

Explore Oslo, Norway: city of explorers, art and industry

Church of Santo Domingo de Guzman in Oaxaca Mexico

Explore Oaxaca: Central Mexico’s “fair and beautiful city”

Sveti Georgi (St George) a Roman-era church is Sofia's oldest preserved building

Explore Sofia, Bulgaria: an emperor’s home from Rome

Kiyomizu Temple in Kyoto and a mountain in the background

Explore Kyoto: Japan’s city of gardens and geishas

An indigenous Aymara woman selling herbs at La Paz's Witches' Market

Explore La Paz, Bolivia: the history of the turbulent city of peace