Since ancient times, humans have built walls to safeguard their homes and communities from attack. While many famous fortified cities such as Jericho and Troy have crumbled over time, plenty of characterful towns and cities remain with their age-old walls intact. From hilltop citadels to fortified coastal enclaves, we've scoured the world to find the most captivating walled cities, and ranked them for their beauty. 

Scroll through the gallery to discover our well-travelled editorial team's favourite walled towns and cities, and discover which is our number one..