Trier - The oldest city in Germany

I have heard enough about Trier, being the oldest city in Germany, founded in or before 16 BC. Trier is not the only city claiming to be Germany's oldest, but it is the only one that bases this assertion on having the longest history as a city, as opposed to a mere settlement or army camp. It was founded by the Romans Augusta Treverorum in 15 BC and hence becoming capital of the Western Roman Empire by 3^rd AD.

Then comes the Porta Nigra and I am finally here to see it for myself. Porta Nigra being the largest Roman city gate north of the Alps and a Unesco World Heritage site. The black gate is a brooding 2^nd century city gate that has been blackened by time. A marvel of engineering and ingenuity, it’s held together by nothing but gravity and iron rods.

Frankly speaking, Trier didn’t impress me as if Cochem, despite of the well know history and the importance of the Porta Nigra, I didn’t really like the black structure that much..., it is so black that as if it was burnt severely before….