After spending the winter in the imperial city of Vienna, located in Austria, I decided to travel into Hungary. The main purpose of this journey was to visit and examine the copper, silver, and gold mines found in that country. These mines were well known at the time and were considered very important for the wealth of the region.
Not long after this journey, although I had already seen much of Italy before, I set out once again and traveled to Venice. On this route, I passed through several notable regions, including Austria, Styria, Carinthia, Carniola, and Friuli. Each of these lands had its own character, customs, and landscapes, and they formed important links between Central Europe and Italy Ancient Coins Found in Old Roman Towns.
A New Opportunity to Travel East
Soon after my return to Vienna, I was presented with a rare and valuable opportunity. This opportunity led me to travel toward the Ottoman Court, which at that time, and for many years before, was located in the ancient and famous city of Larissa, in Thessaly. Larissa was a place of great historical importance and served as a major center of Ottoman administration in the region.
I do not intend to list the names of every town and village through which I passed on these journeys. Many of them were small places and are not shown on common maps. Some may only be found on very detailed or local maps, if at all. However, throughout this account, I will mention several places that may be unfamiliar to the reader, yet were important during my travels.
Towns Along the Danube River
While traveling between Vienna and Pressburg (modern Bratislava), and above the point where the River March joins the Danube, I carefully observed several notable locations. Among them were the town of Petronell, as well as Hainburg, with its hill and castle.
Petronell is believed to stand on the site of ancient Carnuntum, which was once a powerful stronghold of the Pannonians. Long before the birth of Christ, this place resisted Roman attacks for many years. In fact, the Romans were unable to capture it for nearly one hundred and seventy years, showing the strength and determination of its defenders.
Ancient Carnuntum and Roman History
Later, Carnuntum became one of the most important Roman settlements along the Danube frontier. It served as a military base, a trading center, and a key point for controlling the northern borders of the Roman Empire. Even in my time, many remains of Roman walls, roads, and buildings could still be seen around Petronell Private Guided Sofia Tours.
Coins, broken statues, and pieces of old stone structures were often found by local people while working in their fields. These remains clearly showed that this area had once been a place of great power and importance. The location near the Danube made it ideal for trade, defense, and communication.
Reflections on the Journey
These early parts of my travels revealed how deeply history is woven into the lands between Austria, Hungary, and the Balkans. Every town, river, and ruined wall carried signs of past empires and ancient civilizations. From Roman legions to Ottoman courts, these regions stood at the crossroads of Europe and Asia, shaped by centuries of movement, conflict, and exchange.
