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

Roman Forum in Rome, Italy (Photo by Olgacov | Dreamstime.com)

Rome history Emperors, popes and Renaissance glory

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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 . This is a premium piece of content available to subscribed users.

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Colourful wooden houses in Old Nuuk, Greenland

Explore Nuuk: the rainbow capital of Greenland . This is a premium piece of content available to subscribed users.

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

Explore Fès, Morocco: Morocco’s spiritual capital . This is a premium piece of content available to subscribed users.

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

Explore Thessaloniki, Greece: Greece's cultural melting pot . This is a premium piece of content available to subscribed users.

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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' . This is a premium piece of content available to subscribed users.

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Plaza de Armas in historic center of Cusco, Peru

Explore Cusco, Peru: Navel of the Incan world . This is a premium piece of content available to subscribed users.

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Notre Dame de la Major church, Arles

Explore Arles, France: 'Little Rome' of Provence . This is a premium piece of content available to subscribed users.

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Brass band playing during Mardi Gras in Mew Orleans

Explore New Orleans, United States: Louisiana's 'big easy' . This is a premium piece of content available to subscribed users.

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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 . This is a premium piece of content available to subscribed users.

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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 . This is a premium piece of content available to subscribed users.

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Church of Santo Domingo de Guzman in Oaxaca Mexico

Explore Oaxaca: Central Mexico’s “fair and beautiful city” . This is a premium piece of content available to subscribed users.

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

Explore Sofia, Bulgaria: an emperor’s home from Rome . This is a premium piece of content available to subscribed users.

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Kiyomizu Temple in Kyoto and a mountain in the background

Explore Kyoto: Japan’s city of gardens and geishas . This is a premium piece of content available to subscribed users.

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

Explore La Paz, Bolivia: the history of the turbulent city of peace . This is a premium piece of content available to subscribed users.