Ancient Greece had an acropolis, settlements built on elevated ground, often a hill with steep sides, often used for defense. With its sacred springs and its role as a religious sanctuary, the Acropolis also had spiritual significance. 

Ancient Athens and other classical cities grew from the Acropolis. As a result, they are sometimes prominent landmarks in modern cities with ancient pasts, such as Athens. One well-known Acropolis is the Acropolis of Athens, located on a rocky outcrop above the city of Athens and containing the Parthenon. Despite being primarily associated with the Greek cities Athens, Argos (with Larissa), Thebes (with Camera), and Corinth (with its Acrocorinth), the Acropolis can also be applied to many other citadels including Rome, Jerusalem, Celtic Bratislava, many in Asia Minor, and even Castle Rock in Edinburgh. Ireland's Rock of Cashel is a good example. 

Archaeologists and historians also use the term acropolis to describe hilltop settlements found in the Castro culture of Northwestern Iberia. It is no surprise that the Acropolis of Athens is one of the most famous examples of this phenomenon because of its historical association and the buildings that have been constructed there (such as the Parthenon). The Acropolis of Athens achieved its form in the fifth century BC and is currently an archeological site. 

Despite its origin on the mainland of Greece, the acropolis model quickly spread to Greek colonies like the Dorian Lato on Crete during the Archaic Period. "American Acropolis" refers to the ruins of Mission San Juan Capistrano's Great Stone Church in California, United States. High citadels or alcázars are known by many names around the world, often reinforcing a naturally strong location. 

There are many small rural villages in Central Italy that cluster at the foot of a fortified habitation called La Rocca of the village. The term acropolis is also used to refer to overlapping structures like plazas and pyramids central to many Maya cities like Tikal and Copán.