Duckwyn's Travel Blog

When you think about incredible travel destinations that spark curiosity and wonder, ancient Roman architecture often tops the list. Imagine walking through grand arches, standing inside massive amphitheaters, or marveling at aqueducts that once carried water across vast distances. These structures are not just old stones - they tell stories of innovation, culture, and human creativity that still inspire today. Let’s take a journey together to explore some of the most fascina

Photo by Juan Salmoral on Flickr Marcus Aurelius was one of the Roman Empires greatest leaders. He used all of his mental and physical strength to guard and protect Rome and it's borders. He would become the last of the "Five Good Emperors" handing his reign to his son, Commodus, after his death. Before this, he would overcome several attempts by his enemies at the northern border to destroy his reign. They would come close during the Macomannic Wars but a miracle would happe

Emperor Antoninus Pius Photo by Michael Kooiman on Flickr Antoninus Pius was the fourth of the "Five Good Emperors" of Rome. He came to power in 138 AD after the death of Emperor Hadrian. Antoninus wasn't like most Roman leaders. He wasn't out to expand the empire. Instead, Antoninus focused on consolidating the empire, strengthening its borders and improving the lives of every day citizens. Because of this, his reign was called a time of "Roman Peace." The empire prospered w

Photo by Tom Bastin on Flickr This weeks newsletter focused on the third of the Five Good Emperors of Rome. This time we looked at the life of Emperor Hadrian. Hadrian's reign began with the death of Trajan in 117 AD. Unlike many previous rulers, Hadrian focused on consolidating and protecting the empire, instead of seeking expansion. This made for a relative peaceful time although no Roman Emperor can avoid all conflict during their reign. Hadrian spent much of his time trav

When Emperor Nerva took the throne in 96 A.D., Rome was on the brink of chaos. The previous emperor, Domitian, had ruled through fear and suspicion, leaving the empire deeply divided. Nerva’s short reign—just 16 months long—brought something rare to Rome: calm, cooperation, and the promise of lasting peace. Despite his age and reluctance to rule, Nerva’s steady leadership marked the start of the era of the Five Good Emperors, a period that historians consider one of the most

Recently, I've been doing a lot of research on the Roman Empire. There's something about this time in history that seems to appeal to people of all ages. The architecture, the people, the culture, there's so many things that came together during this time period that I find fascinating. If I had a time machine, Rome is the first place I'd go and I'd set the time dial to the period of Emperor Hadrian's rule. Emperor Hadrian had the fortune of ruling Rome during one of it's mo

Imagine walking into a massive stone arena that has seen over 1,900 years of history—gladiatorial combat, a fortress village, and now live performances under the sky. This is the Arles Amphitheatre in southern France. Built around 90 AD, the amphitheatre was inspired by the great Colosseum in Rome and originally could hold more than 20,000 spectators who watched chariot races and hand-to-hand battles.  In the 5th century, the structure was transformed into a fortress. Over 20