All over Europe, the Romans founded cities which still stand today. Like Aventicum in western Switzerland, now about 2,000 years old.
The anniversary was recently celebrated with a festival featuring gladiator fighting, a Roman theatre performance and mosaic workshops.
In Aventicum’s heyday, it had several public baths, a theatre, a forum, a temple, arches, opulent houses with mosaics and heating systems, and a magnificent amphitheatre, which is still in use. Many of the ruins can still be visited in the town now called Avenches.
