nine of the world's most famous ancient wonders, from vacation to go

Rome's Colosseum could hold about 50,000 people in its prime, when it served as an entertainment venue for gladiator contests, animal hunts, battle re-enactments and other public spectacles. Despite vandalism, earthquakes and a fire, it remains an enduring symbol of the "Eternal City." Click here for tours that visit Rome.

The Great Pyramids of Giza lie just outside Cairo. Each was built to house and preserve the mummified body of a single pharaoh for eternity. The largest, the Great Pyramid of Cheops, was completed around 2690 B.C. It stands 448 feet tall and has a base that covers an area of 13 acres. Click here for tours that visit the Great Pyramids.

Who built Stonehenge, and why? The mysterious stone circle, built around 2500 B.C. in southern England, puzzles historians, archaeologists and laymen alike. Some think it's an ancient religious site used for celebrations or sacrifice; others believe it's an early scientific endeavor, perhaps used to study the movement of the stars. Whatever the reason, the efforts behind its construction are impressive, as the stones are thought to have been transported from miles away. Click here for tours that visit Stonehenge.

The Great Wall of China, which stretches more than 4,000 miles from east to west, once protected the country from invading foreigners. Now, it attracts them from all corners of the globe. The building of the wall took place in several phases, starting in 221 B.C. Much of what remains today was built by the Ming dynasty. Click here for tours that visit the Great Wall.

On August 24 in A.D. 79, Mount Vesuvius erupted in a violent fury. Hell rained down for 19 hours, burying Pompeii, Herculaneum and nearby villages under 75 feet of volcanic ash and cinders. Pompeii remained lost for nearly 1,700 years before its accidental discovery in the 18th century. Now, the excavated site, with its beautifully preserved buildings, frescoes and mosaics, is a popular tourist destination in southern Italy, not far from Naples. Click here for tours that visit Pompeii.

In 1974, farmers in Xian, China, uncovered a life-size figure made of terra cotta. Excavations revealed three large pits estimated to contain more than 8,000 clay soldiers and horses, most of which have yet to be exhumed. They had been placed near the tomb of Emperor Qin Shi Huang, who commissioned the Terra-Cotta Warriors of Xian at the age of 13. Each one is unique, as facial ｅxpressions, dress and military rank vary among this silent army that watches over the emperor, who died in 210 B.C. Click here for tours that visit Xian.

More than 2,000 years ago, Arabs known as Nabataeans carved a city from the dusky pink sandstone cliffs of southern Jordan. Excursions to Petra, called the “rose-red city,” typically take in the treasury, the Roman-style amphitheater and the ancient tombs. The approach to Petra is rather dramatic -- visitors must walk through a dark, narrow gorge called the Siq -- about a mile long and, at some points, no more than 10 feet wide. Click here for tours that visit Petra.

A collection of classical Greek buildings awaits visitors who make their way to the summit of the Acropolis in Athens. The most iconic sight here is the Parthenon, built to honor the goddess Athena in the fifth century B.C. In addition to a good dose of ancient Greek history, the site offers panoramic views of the modern city below. Click here for tours that visit the Acropolis.

Stroll down a marble street and admire what remains of the ancient city of Ephesus in western Turkey. It contains both Greek and Roman architecture and was the site of one of the original seven ancient wonders, the Temple of Artemis. That temple no longer exists, but today, the most frequently photographed sights include the two-tiered, columned facade of the Library of Celsus, the Temple of Hadrian and the large outdoor theater. Click here for tours that visit Ephesus.