Present-day nation: Mexico

Inhabited since: as early as the year 100, perhaps earlier

The history: To those who do know it, Cholula is best known as the home of the largest man-made pyramid in the world, the Great Pyramid of Tepanapa (also called the Great Pyramid of Cholula, naturally). Over the years, after serving as a significant cultural centre for several pre-Columbian civilisations, including the Aztecs, nature reclaimed the monument for itself. It was so covered in dirt and foliage that, by the time the Spaniards arrived, they mistook it for simply a large hill and built a church on top of it.

The present: Of course, the Great Pyramid and the church, Santuario de la Virgen de los Remedios, are both worth a visit. From that vantage point, you should also be able to see the two nearby volcanoes Popocatépetl and Iztaccíhuatl. The former is active; the latter is dormant – and, fittingly, resembles a woman asleep.

Present-day nation: Ethiopia

Inhabited since: as early as 400 BCE

The history: Axum is a town in the Tigray Region of present-day northern Ethiopia and was once the capital of the Aksumite Empire, a major maritime power that ruled the Horn of Africa from the classical period to the Middle Ages. Scholars believe that, over time, competing Persian and Arab empires in the region led to the decline of Axum (also spelt Aksum), though it has always remained religiously significant in the Ethiopian region.

The present: Today, the ruins of ancient Axum are a UNESCO World Heritage Site and home to national symbols of Ethiopia: two stone structures taller than they are wide, called stelae – King Ezana’s Stele and the Obelisk of Axum. The latter was stolen by the Italian Army in 1937 and returned to the country only in the early 21st century.

Present-day nation: Guatemala

Inhabited since: as early as 900–600 BCE

The history: Flores is a small municipality in Guatemala that has been continuously occupied since pre-Hispanic times, making it one of the oldest towns in the world. It rests on the shores of – and on an island in – Lake Petén Itzá, the country’s third-largest lake. The old town, once called Nojpetén, still stands on the island and is connected to the rest of the city on the mainland. It was the capital city of Petén Itzá, the kingdom of the Itza Maya.

The present: Tourists often use Flores as a base from which to visit the archaeological sites at Tikal National Park, where architecture in the area goes back as far as the fourth century BC. But Flores itself is picturesque and worth a stay; these days, artisans’ boutiques and restaurants thrive in the old city, from which you can easily go kayaking on Lake Petén Itzá.

Present-day nation: Portugal

Inhabited since: as early as 1,100 BCE

The history: Lisbon is a port city, the capital of Portugal, and named after Ulysses, AKA Odysseus of Homer’s Odyssey – or so say classical authors. But other etymological roots can be traced back to the Phoenician name Alis Ubo and to the Roman Olisipo. Until the age of conquest in the 16th century, Europeans considered Lisbon the edge of the known world. Much of the city’s ancient architecture was destroyed by a major earthquake in 1755, but Lisbon’s beauty shines brighter than ever.

The present: Explore the rich history and architecture of the Jerónimos Monastery (which houses the tomb of the explorer Vasco da Gama), shop in the trendy Baixa neighbourhood, or make a day trip to bibliophile mecca Óbidos.