South America
1. Easter Island (Chile)
Easter
Island is a Polynesian island in the southeastern Pacific Ocean, at the
southeastern most point of the Polynesian triangle. A special territory
of Chile annexed in 1888, Easter Island is widely famous for its 887
extant monumental statues, called moai, created by the early Rapanui
people. It is a World Heritage Site with much of the island protected
within the Rapa Nui National Park. The history of Easter Island is rich
and controversial. Its inhabitants have endured famines, epidemics,
civil war, slave raids and colonialism, and near deforestation; their
population has declined precipitously more than once. They have left a
cultural legacy that has brought them fame disproportionate to their
population.
2. Machu Picchu (Peru)
Machu
Picchu is a pre-Columbian Inca site located 2,430 metres (8,000 ft)
above sea level. It is situated on a mountain ridge above the vicalamba
Valley in Peru, which is 80 kilometres (50 mi) northwest of Cuzco and
through which the Urubamba River flows. Most archaeologists believe
that Machu Picchu was built as an estate for the Inca emperor Pachacuti
(1438–1472). Often referred to as “The Lost City of the Incas”, it is
perhaps the most familiar icon of the Inca World.
Central America & Caribbean
3. Teotihuacan (Mexico)
Teotihuacan
is an enormous archaeological site in the Basin of Mexico, containing
some of the largest pyramidal structures built in the pre-Columbian
Americas. Apart from the pyramidal structures, Teotihuacan is also
known for its large residential complexes, the Avenue of the Dead, and
numerous colorful, well-preserved murals. At its zenith in the first
half of the 1st millennium CE, Teotihuacan was the largest city in the
pre-Columbian Americas. At this time it may have had more than 200,000
inhabitants, placing it among the largest cities of the world in this
period. The civilization and cultural complex associated with the site
is also referred to as Teotihuacan or Teotihuacano.
5. Palenque (Mexico)
Palenque
was a Maya city state in southern Mexico that flourished in the seventh
century CE. After its decline it was absorbed into the jungle, but has
been excavated and restored and is now a famous archaeological site
attracting thousands of visitors. It is located near the Usumacinta
River in the Mexican state of Chiapas, located about 130 km south of
Ciudad del Carmen (see map) about 150 meters above sea-level.
Europe
6. Château de Chambord (France)
The
royal Château de Chambord at Chambord, Loir-et-Cher, France is one of
the most recognizable châteaux in the world because of its very
distinct French Renaissance architecture that blends traditional French
medieval forms with classical Italian structures. The building, which
was never completed, was constructed by King François I in part to be
near to his mistress the Comtesse de Thoury, Claude Rohan, wife of
Julien de Clermont, a member of a very important family of France,
whose domaine, the château de Muides, was adjacent. Her arms figure in
the carved decor of the chateau. Chambord is the largest castle in the
Loire Valley, but was built to serve only as a hunting lodge for
François I, who maintained his royal residences at Château de Blois and
at Château d’Amboise. The original design of the Château de Chambord is
attributed, though with several doubts, to Domenico da Cortona, whose
wooden model for the design survived long enough to be drawn by André
Félibien in the seventeenth century.
7. Chartres Cathedral (France)
The
Cathedral of Our Lady of Chartres, a Latin Rite Catholic cathedral
located in Chartres, about 80 kilometres (50 mi) southwest of Paris, is
considered one of the finest examples in all France of the Gothic style
of architecture. The current cathedral is one of at least four that
have occupied the site. From a distance it seems to hover in mid-air
above waving fields of wheat, and it is only when the visitor draws
closer that the city comes into view, clustering around the hill on
which the cathedral stands. Its two contrasting spires — one, a 105
metre (349 ft) plain pyramid dating from the 1140s, and the other a 113
metre (377 ft) tall early 16th century Flamboyant spire on top of an
older tower — soar upwards over the pale green roof, while all around
the outside are complex flying buttresses.
8. Pont du Gard (France)
The
Pont du Gard is an aqueduct in the South of France constructed by the
Roman Empire, and located in Vers-Pont-du-Gard near Remoulins, in the
Gard département. It has long been thought that the Pont du Gard was
built by Augustus’ son-in-law and aide, Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa,
around the year 19 BC. Newer excavations, however, suggest the
construction may have taken place in the middle of the first century
A.D; consequently, opinion is now somewhat divided on the matter.
9. Acropolis of Athens (Greece)
The
Acropolis of Athens is the best known acropolis in the world. Although
there are many other acropoleis in Greece, the significance of the
Acropolis of Athens is such that it is commonly known as The Acropolis
without qualification. The Acropolis was formally proclaimed as the
pre-eminent monument on the European Cultural Heritage list of
monuments on 26 March 2007. The Acropolis is a flat-topped rock that
rises 150 m (490 ft) above sea level in the city of Athens, with a
surface area of about 3 hectares. It was also known as Cecropia, after
the legendary serpent-man, Cecrops, the first Athenian king. The
entrance to the Acropolis was a monumental gateway called the
Propylaea. To the south of the entrance is the tiny Temple of Athena
Nike. A bronze statue of Athena, sculpted by Phidias, originally stood
at its centre. At the centre of the Acropolis is the Parthenon or
Temple of Athena Parthenos (Athena the Virgin). East of the entrance
and north of the Parthenon is the temple known as the Erechtheum.
10. Archaeological Site of Delphi (Greece)
Delphi
is both an archaeological site and a modern town in Greece on the
south-western spur of Mount Parnassus in the valley of Phocis. Delphi
was the site of the Delphic oracle, the most important oracle in the
classical Greek world, and a major site for the worship of the god
Apollo after he slew the Python, a deity who lived there and protected
the navel of the Earth. Python (derived from the verb pythein, “to
rot”) is claimed by some to be the original name of the site in
recognition of the Python that Apollo defeated (Miller, 95). The
Homeric Hymn to Delphic Apollo recalled that the ancient name of this
site had been Krisa. His sacred precinct in Delphi was a panhellenic
sanctuary, where every four years, starting in 586 B.C. (Miller, 96)
athletes from all over the Greek world competed in the Pythian Games,
one of the four panhellenic (or stephanitic) games, precursors of the
Modern Olympics.
11. Epidaurus Theater (Greece)
The
prosperity brought by the Asklepieion enabled Epidauros to construct
civic monuments too: the huge theater that delighted Pausanias for its
symmetry and beauty, which is used once again for dramatic
performances, the ceremonial Hestiatoreion (banqueting hall), baths and
a palaestra. The theater was designed by Polykleitos the Younger in the
4th century BC. The original 34 rows were extended in Roman times by
another 21 rows. As is usual for Greek theaters (and as opposed to
Roman ones), the view on a lush landscape behind the skene is an
integral part of the theater itself and is not to be obscured. It seats
up to 15,000 people.
12. Colosseum (Italy)
The
Colosseum or Roman Coliseum, originally the Flavian Amphitheatre, is an
elliptical amphitheatre in the center of the city of Rome, Italy, the
largest ever built in the Roman Empire. It is considered one of the
greatest works of Roman architecture and Roman engineering. Occupying a
site just east of the Roman Forum, its construction started between 70
and 72 AD under the emperor Vespasian and was completed in 80 AD under
Titus, with further modifications being made during Domitian’s reign
(81–96). The name “Amphitheatrum Flavium” derives from both Vespasian’s
and Titus’s family name (Flavius, from the gens Flavia). Capable of
seating 50,000 spectators, the Colosseum was used for gladiatorial
contests and public spectacles. As well as the gladiatorial games,
other public spectacles were held there, such as mock sea battles,
animal hunts, executions, re-enactments of famous battles, and dramas
based on Classical mythology.
13. Grand Canal Of Venice (Italy)
The
Grand Canal is a canal in Venice, Italy. It forms one of the major
water-traffic corridors in the city. Public transport is provided by
water buses and private water taxis, but many tourists visit it by
gondola. At one end the canal leads into the lagoon near Santa Lucia
railway station and the other end leads into Saint Mark Basin: in
between it makes a large S-shape through the central districts
(”sestieri”) of Venice. It is 3,800 m long, 30-90 m wide, with an
average depth of five meters. The Grand Canal banks are lined with more
than 170 buildings, most of which date to 13th/18th century and
demonstrate the welfare and art created by the Republic of Venice. The
noble venetian families faced huge expenses to show off their richness
in suitable palazzos: this contest reveals the citizens’ pride and the
deep bond with the lagoon.
14. Pompeii (Italy)
Pompeii
is a ruined and partially buried Roman town-city near modern Naples in
the Italian region of Campania, in the territory of the comune of
Pompeii. Along with Herculaneum, its sister city, Pompeii was destroyed
and completely buried during a long catastrophic eruption of the
volcano Mount Vesuvius spanning two days in 79 AD. The volcano
collapsed higher roof-lines and buried Pompeii under 20 meters of ash
and pumice, and it was lost for nearly 1,700 years before its
accidental rediscovery in 1748. Since then, its excavation has provided
an extraordinarily detailed insight into the life of a city at the
height of the Roman Empire. Today, this UNESCO World Heritage Site is
one of the most popular tourist attractions of Italy, with 2,571,725
visitors in 2007.
15. Piazza del Campo (Italy)
Piazza
del Campo is the principal public space of the historic center of
Siena, Tuscany, Italy and is one of Europe’s greatest medieval squares.
It is renowned worldwide for its beauty and architectural integrity.
The Palazzo Pubblico and its Torre del Mangia, as well as various
palazzi signorili surround the shell-shaped piazza. At the northwest
edge is the Fonte Gaia. The twice-per-year horse-race, Palio di Siena,
is held around the edges of the piazza.
16. Hieronymites Monastery (Portugal)
The
Hieronymites Monastery is located in the Belém district of Lisbon,
Portugal. This magnificent monastery can be considered one of the most
prominent monuments in Lisbon and is certainly one of the most
successful achievements of the Manueline style (Portuguese
late-Gothic). In 1983, it was classified by the UNESCO, with nearby
Belém Tower, as a World Heritage Site. The house for the Hieronymite
monks was built on the same site of the Ermida do Restelo, a hermitage
that was founded by Henry the Navigator at about 1450. It was at this
hermitage, that was already in disrepair, that Vasco da Gama and his
men spent the night in prayer before departing for India in 1497.
17. Alhambra (Spain)
The
Alhambra, the complete form of which was Calat Alhambra, is a palace
and fortress complex constructed during the mid 14th century by the
Moorish rulers of the Emirate of Granada in Al-Andalus, occupying a
hilly terrace on the southeastern border of the city of Granada, now in
the autonomous community of Andalusia, Spain. Once the residence of the
Muslim rulers of Granada and their court, the site became a Christian
palace. Within the Alhambra, the Palace of Charles V was erected by
Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor, in 1527. After being allowed to fall
into disrepair, the Alhambra was “rediscovered” in the 19th century. It
is now one of Spain’s major tourist attractions and exhibits the
country’s most famous Islamic architecture, together with Christian
16th-century and later interventions in buildings and gardens.
18. Chillon Castle (Switzerland)
The
Chillon Castle (Château de Chillon) is located on the shore of Lake
Geneva in the municipality of Veytaux, at the eastern end of the lake,
3 km from Montreux, Switzerland. The castle consists of 100 independent
buildings that were gradually connected to become the building as it
stands now. The oldest parts of the castle have not been definitively
dated, but the first written record of the castle is in 1160 or 1005.
From the mid 12th century, the castle was home to the Counts of Savoy,
and it was greatly expanded in the 13th century by Pietro II. The
Castle was never taken in a siege, but did change hands through
treaties.
19. Stonehenge (United Kingdom)
Stonehenge
is a prehistoric monument located in the English county of Wiltshire,
about 3.2 kilometres (2.0 mi) west of Amesbury and 13 kilometres (8.1
mi) north of Salisbury. One of the most famous sites in the world,
Stonehenge is composed of earthworks surrounding a circular setting of
large standing stones. It is at the centre of the most dense complex of
Neolithic and Bronze Age monuments in England, including several
hundred burial mounds. Archaeologists had believed that the iconic
stone monument was erected around 2500 BC, as described in the
chronology below. One recent theory, however, has suggested that the
first stones were not erected until 2400-2200 BC, whilst another
suggests that bluestones may have been erected at the site as early as
3000 BC (see phase 1 below).
Africa
20. Great Pyramid of Giza (Egypt)
The
Great Pyramid of Giza (also called the Pyramid of Khufu and the Pyramid
of Cheops) is the oldest and largest of the three pyramids in the Giza
Necropolis bordering what is now El Giza, Egypt, and in a historical
irony is the oldest of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World and the
only one that survives substantially intact. It is believed the pyramid
was built as a tomb for fourth dynasty Egyptian Pharaoh Khufu (Cheops
in Greek) and constructed over a 20 year period concluding around 2551
BC. The Great Pyramid consists of more than 2.3 million limestone
blocks (unless it was built on a substantial core of natural rock,
which is possible). The Egyptians obtained the majority of the
limestone blocks from a nearby quarry. The Tura limestone used for the
casing was quarried across the river. The largest granite stones in the
pyramid, found in the “King’s” chamber, weigh 25 to 80 tonnes and were
transported more than 500 miles away from Aswan.
21. Abu Simbel (Egypt)
Abu
Simbel temples are two massive rock temples in Nubia, southern Egypt on
the western bank of Lake Nasser about 290 km southwest of Aswan. It is
part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site known as the “Nubian Monuments”,
which run from Abu Simbel downriver to Philae (near Aswan). The twin
temples were originally carved out of the mountainside during the reign
of Pharaoh Ramesses II in the 13th century BC, as a lasting monument to
himself and his queen Nefertari, to commemorate his alleged victory at
the Battle of Kadesh, and to intimidate his Nubian neighbors. However,
the complex was relocated in its entirety in the 1960s, on an
artificial hill made from a domed structure, high above the Aswan High
Dam reservoir. The relocation of the temples was necessary to avoid
their being submerged during the creation of Lake Nasser, the massive
artificial water reservoir formed after the building of the Aswan High
Dam on the Nile River. Abu Simbel remains one of Egypt’s top tourist
attractions.
22. Karnak (Egypt)
The
Karnak Temple Complex — usually called simply Karnak — comprises a vast
conglomeration of ruined temples, chapels, pylons and other buildings,
notably the Great Temple of Amen and a massive structure begun by
Pharaoh Amenhotep III (ca. 1391-1351 BC). It is located near Luxor,
some 500 km south of Cairo, in Egypt. The area around Karnak was the
ancient Egyptian Ipet-isut (”The Most Selected of Places”) and the main
place of worship of the Theban Triad with the god Amun as its head. It
is part of the monumental city of Thebes. The Karnak complex takes its
name from the nearby (and partly surrounded) modern village of
el-Karnak, some 2.5 km north of Luxor.
23. Mortuary Temple of Hatshepsut (Egypt)
The
Mortuary Temple of Queen Hatshepsut is situated beneath the cliffs at
Deir el Bahari on the west bank of the Nile near the Valley of the
Kings in Egypt. Designed by the architect Senemut, the mortuary temple
is dedicated to the sun god Amon-Ra and is located next to the mortuary
temple of Mentuhotep II, which served both as an inspiration, and
later, a quarry. It is considered one of the “incomparable monuments of
ancient Egypt.”. Hatshepsut’s temple is considered the closest Egypt
came to the Classical Architecture. It marks a turning point in the
architecture of Ancient Egypt, which forsook the megalithic geometry of
the Old Kingdom for a temple which allowed for active worship,
requiring the presence of participants to create the majesty.
24. Leptis Magna (Libya)
Leptis
Magna, also known as Lectis Magna (or Lepcis Magna as it is sometimes
spelled), also called Lpqy or Neapolis, was a prominent city of the
Roman Empire. Its ruins are located in Al Khums, Libya, 130 km east of
Tripoli, on the coast where the Wadi Lebda meets the sea. The site is
one of the most spectacular and unspoiled Roman ruins in the
Mediterranean. The city appears to have been founded by Phoenician
colonists sometime around 1100 BC, although it did not achieve
prominence until Carthage became a major power in the Mediterranean Sea
in the 4th century BC. It nominally remained part of Carthage’s
dominions until the end of the Third Punic War in 146 BC and then
became part of the Roman Republic, although from about 200 BC onward,
it was for all intents and purposes an independent city.
25. Timbuktu (Mali)
Timbuktu
(Timbuctoo) is a city in Tombouctou Region, in the West African nation
of Mali. It was made prosperous by the tenth mansa of the Mali Empire,
Mansa Musa. It is home to Sankore University and other madrasas, and
was an intellectual and spiritual capital and centre for the
propagation of Islam throughout Africa in the 15th and 16th centuries.
Its three great mosques, Djingareyber, Sankore and Sidi Yahya, recall
Timbuktu’s golden age. Although continuously restored, these monuments
are today under threat from desertification.
Asia
26. Angkor Wat (Cambodia)
Angkor
Wat (or Angkor Vat) is a temple complex at Angkor, Cambodia, built for
the king Suryavarman II in the early 12th century as his state temple
and capital city. As the best-preserved temple at the site, it is the
only one to have remained a significant religious centre since its
foundation—first Hindu, dedicated to the god Vishnu, then Buddhist. The
temple is the epitome of the high classical style of Khmer
architecture. It has become a symbol of Cambodia, appearing on its
national flag, and it is the country’s prime attraction for visitors.
Angkor Wat, is a unique combination of the temple mountain, the
standard design for the empire’s state temples, the later plan of
concentric galleries, and influences from Orissa and the Chola of Tamil
Nadu, India. The temple is a representation of Mount Meru, the home of
the gods: the central quincunx of towers symbolises the five peaks of
the mountain, and the walls and moat the surrounding mountain ranges
and ocean. Access to the upper areas of the temple was progressively
more exclusive, with the laity being admitted only to the lowest level.
27. Great Wall of China (China)
The
Great Wall of China or is a series of stone and earthen fortifications
in northern China, built, rebuilt, and maintained between the 5th
century BC and the 16th century to protect the northern borders of the
Chinese Empire. Since the 5th century BC, several walls have been built
that were referred to as the Great Wall. One of the most famous is the
wall built between 220–206 BC by the first Emperor of China, Qin Shi
Huang. Little of that wall remains; the majority of the existing wall
were built during the Ming Dynasty.
28. Forbidden City (China)
The
Forbidden City was the Chinese imperial palace from the Ming Dynasty to
the end of the Qing Dynasty. It is located in the middle of Beijing,
China, and now houses the Palace Museum. For almost five centuries, it
served as the home of the Emperor and his household, as well as the
ceremonial and political centre of Chinese government. Since 1925, the
Forbidden City has been under the charge of the Palace Museum, whose
extensive collection of artwork and artifacts were built upon the
imperial collections of the Ming and Qing dynasties. Part of the
museum’s former collection is now located in the National Palace Museum
in Taipei. Both museums descend from the same institution, but were
split after the Chinese Civil War. (based on a
29. Terracotta Army (China)
The
Terracotta Army is the Terra Cotta Warriors and Horses of Qin Shi Huang
the First Emperor of China. The terracotta figures, dating from 210 BC,
were discovered in 1974 by some local farmers near Xi’an, Shaanxi
province, China near the Mausouleum of the First Qin Emperor. The
figures vary in height (183–195 cm - 6 ft–6 ft 5in), according to their
role, the tallest being the generals. The figures include warriors,
chariots, horses, officials, acrobats, strongmen, and musicians.
Current estimates are that in the three pits containing the Terracotta
Army there were over 8,000 soldiers, 130 chariots with 520 horses and
150 cavalry horses, the majority of which are still buried in the pits.
Many archeologists believe that there are many pits still waiting to be
discovered.
30. Hanging Temple of Hengshan (China)
The
Hanging Temple is a temple built into a cliff ( 75m Above the ground )
near Mount Heng in the province of Shanxi. The closest city is Datong,
65 kilometers to the northwest. Along with the Yungang Grottoes, the
Hanging Temple is one of the main tourist attractions and historical
sites in the Datong area. Built more than 1,500 years ago, this temple
is notable not only for its location on a sheer precipice but also
because it includes Buddhist, Taoist, and Confucian elements.
31. Leshan Giant Buddha (China)
The
Leshan Giant Buddha was built during the Tang Dynasty (618–907). It is
carved out of a cliff face that lies at the confluence of the Minjiang,
Dadu and Qingyi rivers in the southern part of Sichuan province in
China, near the city of Leshan. The stone sculpture faces Mount Emei,
with the rivers flowing below his feet. It is the largest carved stone
Buddha in the world and at the time of its construction was the tallest
statue in the world. At 71 metres (233 feet) tall, the statue depicts a
seated Maitreya Buddha with his hands resting on his knees. His
shoulders are 28 metres wide and his smallest toenail is large enough
to easily accommodate a seated person.
32. Taj Mahal (India)
The
Taj Mahal is a mausoleum located in Agra, India, built by Mughal
Emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his favorite wife, Mumtaz Mahal. The
Taj Mahal is considered the finest example of Mughal architecture, a
style that combines elements from Persian, Indian, and Islamic
architectural styles. In 1983, the Taj Mahal became a UNESCO World
Heritage Site and was cited as “the jewel of Muslim art in India and
one of the universally admired masterpieces of the world’s heritage.”
33. Harmandir Sahib (India)
Golden
Temple or Harmandir Sahib, informally referred to as The Golden Temple
or Temple of God, is culturally the most significant place of worship
of the Sikhs and one of the oldest Sikh gurdwaras. It is located in the
city of Amritsar, which was established by Guru Ram Das Ji, the fourth
guru of the Sikhs, and is, also due to the shrine, known as Guru Di
Nagri meaning city of the Guru. Originally built during AD 1574, the
site of the temple was surrounded by a small lake in a thin forest. The
third of the six grand Mughals, emperor Akbar, who visited the third
Sikh Guru, Guru Amar Das.
34. Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple (India)
Meenakshi
Sundareswarar Temple or Meenakshi Amman Temple is a historic Hindu
temple located in the holy city of Madurai, Tamil Nadu, India. It is
dedicated to Lord Shiva (in the form of Sundareswarar or Beautiful
Lord) and his consort, Goddess Parvati (in the form of Meenakshi). The
temple forms the heart and lifeline of the 2500 year old city of
Madurai. The complex houses 14 magnificent Gopurams or towers including
two golden Gopurams for the main deities, that are elaborately
sculptured and painted. The temple is a significant symbol for the
Tamil people, and has been mentioned since antiquity in Tamil
literature, though the present structure is believed to have been built
in 1600. The tallest temple tower is 51.9 metres (170 ft) high.
35. Borobudur (Indonesia)
Borobudur
is a ninth-century Mahayana Buddhist monument in Magelang, Central
Java, Indonesia. The monument comprises six square platforms topped by
three circular platforms, and is decorated with 2,672 relief panels and
504 Buddha statues. A main dome, located at the center of the top
platform, is surrounded by 72 Buddha statues seated inside perforated
stupa. The monument is both a shrine to the Lord Buddha and a place for
Buddhist pilgrimage. The journey for pilgrims begins at the base of the
monument and follows a path circumambulating the monument while
ascending to the top through the three levels of Buddhist cosmology,
namely Kāmadhātu (the world of desire), Rupadhatu (the world of forms)
and Arupadhatu (the world of formlessness). During the journey the
monument guides the pilgrims through a system of stairways and
corridors with 1,460 narrative relief panels on the wall and the
balustrades.
36. Kinkaku-ji (Japan)
Kinkaku-ji
or formally Rokuon-ji is a Zen Buddhist temple in Kyoto, Japan. It is
one of the construction that represents the Kitayama Culture of
Muromachi period. The original Kinkaku-ji was built in 1397 to serve as
a retirement villa for Shogun Ashikaga Yoshimitsu, as part of his
estate then known as Kitayama. It was his son, shogun Ashikaga
Yoshimochi, who converted the building into a Zen temple of the Rinzai
school.
37. Bagan (Myanmar)
Bagan,
formerly Pagan, is an ancient city in the Mandalay Division of Burma
(Myanmar). Formally titled Arimaddanapura or Arimaddana (the City of
the Enemy Crusher) and also known as Tambadipa (the Land of Copper) or
Tassadessa (the Parched Land), it was the ancient capital of several
ancient kingdoms in Burma. It is located in the dry central plains of
the country, on the eastern bank of the Ayeyarwady River, 90 miles (145
km) southwest of Mandalay. Bagan was submitted to become a UNESCO
heritage site but many speculate of politics as partly the reason for
the exclusion. UNESCO does not designate Bagan as a World Heritage
Site. The main reason given is that the military junta (SPDC) has
haphazardly restored ancient stupas, temples and buildings, ignoring
original architectural styles and using modern materials which bear
little or no resemblance to the original designs. The junta has also
established a golf course, a paved highway, and built a 200-foot (61-m)
watchtower in the southeastern suburb of Minnanthu.
38. Banaue Rice Terraces (Philippines)
The
Banaue Rice Terraces are 2000-year old terraces that were carved into
the mountains of Ifugao in the Philippines by ancestors of the
indigenous people. The Rice Terraces are commonly referred to by
Filipinos as the “Eighth Wonder of the World”. It is commonly thought
that the terraces were built with minimal equipment, largely by hand.
The terraces are located approximately 1500 meters (5000 ft) above sea
level and cover 10,360 square kilometers (about 4000 square miles) of
mountainside. They are fed by an ancient irrigation system from the
rainforests above the terraces. It is said that if the steps are put
end to end it would encircle half the globe. The Banaue terraces are
part of the Rice Terraces of the Philippine Cordilleras, ancient
sprawling man-made structures from 2,000 to 6,000 years old. They are
found in the provinces of Kalinga, Apayao, Benguet, Mountain Province
and Ifugao, and are a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
39. Kremlin (Russia)
Kremlin
is the Russian word for “fortress”, “citadel” or “castle” and refers to
any major fortified central complex found in historic Russian cities.
This word is often used to refer to the best-known one, the Moscow
Kremlin, or metonymically to the government that is based there.
Outside Russia, the name “Kremlin” is sometimes mistakenly thought of
as being Saint Basil’s Cathedral because of its distinctive
environment, although this is not a part of the Moscow Kremlin. The
name Kremlin (or Kreml) has been allocated to various Soviet Navy
vessels during construction. In each case, the name was changed prior
to commissioning. Vessels which have briefly carried this name included
Admiral Kuznetsov and Ulyanovsk.
40. Wat Phra Kaew (Thailand)
The
Wat Phra Kaew (English Temple of the Emerald Buddha) full official name
Wat Phra Sri Rattana Satsadaram, is regarded as the most sacred
Buddhist temple (wat) in Thailand. It is located in the historic center
of Bangkok (district Phra Nakhon), within the grounds of the Grand
Palace. The construction of the temple started when King Buddha Yodfa
Chulaloke (Rama I) moved the capital from Thonburi to Bangkok in 1785.
Unlike other temples it does not contain living quarters for monks;
rather, it has only the highly decorated holy buildings, statues, and
pagodas.
41. Wat Arun (Thailand)
Wat
Arun is a Buddhist temple (wat) in the Bangkok Yai district of Bangkok,
Thailand, on the west bank of the Chao Phraya River. The full name of
the temple is Wat Arunratchawararam Ratchaworamahawihan. The
outstanding feature of Wat Arun is its central prang (Khmer-style
tower). Begun in 1809, it may have been named “Temple of the Dawn”
because the first light of morning reflects off the surface of the
temple with a pearly iridescence. Steep steps lead up to two terraces.
The height is reported by different sources as between 66.8 m and 86 m.
The corners are surrounded by 4 smaller satellite prangs. The prangs
are decorated by seashells and bits of porcelain which had previously
been used as ballast by boats coming to Bangkok from China.
Middle East
42. Dome of the Rock (Israel)
The
Dome of the Rock is an Islamic shrine and major landmark located on the
Temple Mount in Jerusalem. It was completed in 691, making it the
oldest existing Islamic building in the world. The site’s significance
stems from the religious beliefs regarding the rock, known as the
Foundation Stone in Judaism, at its heart. The Dome of the Rock is
located at the visual center of a platform known as the Temple Mount,
which Muslims refer to as the “Noble Sanctuary”. It was constructed
over the site of the Second Jewish Temple which was destroyed during
the Roman Siege of Jerusalem in 70 CE. In 637 CE, Jerusalem was
conquered by the Rashidun Caliphate army during the Islamic invasion of
the Byzantine Empire.
43. Masada (Israel)
Masada
is the name for a site of ancient palaces and fortifications in the
South District of Israel on top of an isolated rock plateau, or horst,
on the eastern edge of the Judean Desert overlooking the Dead Sea.
After the First Jewish-Roman War a siege of the fortress by troops of
the Roman Empire led to the mass suicide of the Sicarii rebels, who
preferred death to surrender. According to Josephus, a first-century
Jewish Roman historian, Herod the Great fortified Masada between 37 and
31 BCE as a refuge for himself in the event of a revolt. In 66 CE, at
the beginning of the First Jewish-Roman War against the Roman Empire, a
group of Jewish extremists called the Sicarii overcame the Roman
garrison of Masada.
44. Petra (Jordan)
Petra,
is a historic and archaeological city in the Jordanian governorate of
Ma’an that has rock cut architecture and water conduits system.
Established sometime around the 6th century BC as the capital city of
the Nabataeans, it is a symbol of Jordan as well as its most visited
tourism attraction. It lies on the slope of Mount Hor in a basin among
the mountains which form the eastern flank of Arabah (Wadi Araba), the
large valley running from the Dead Sea to the Gulf of Aqaba. Petra was
chosen as one of the New Seven Wonders of the World in 2007 and a World
Heritage Site since 1985. Petra was chosen by the BBC as one of “the 40
places you have to see before you die”.
45. Baalbek (Lebanon)
Baalbek
is a town in the Bekaa Valley of Lebanon, altitude 1,170 metres (3,800
ft), situated east of the Litani River. It is famous for its
exquisitely detailed yet monumentally scaled temple ruins of the Roman
period, when Baalbek, known as Heliopolis was one of the largest
sanctuaries in the Empire. It is Lebanon’s greatest Roman treasure, and
it can be counted among the wonders of the ancient world. The largest
and most noble Roman temples ever built, they are also among the best
preserved. Towering high above the Beqaa plain, their monumental
proportions proclaimed the power and wealth of Imperial Rome. The gods
worshipped here, the Triad of Jupiter, Venus and Bacchus, were grafted
onto the indigenous deities of Hadad, Atargatis and a young male god of
fertility. Local influences are also seen in the planning and layout of
the temples, which vary from the classic Roman design.
46. Damascus (Syria)
Damascus
(commonly known as ash-Shām also known as the “City of Jasmin”) is the
capital and largest city of Syria as well as one of the country’s 14
governorates. The Damascus Governorate is ruled by a governor appointed
by the Minister of Interior. In addition to being widely known as the
oldest continuously inhabited city in the world, Damascus is a major
cultural and religious center of the Levant. Damascus has a wealth of
historical sites dating back to many different periods of the city’s
history. Since the city has been built up with every passing
occupation, it has become almost impossible to excavate all the ruins
of Damascus that lie up to 8 feet (2.4 m) below the modern level. The
Citadel of Damascus is located in the northwest corner of the Old City.
47. Palmyra (Syria)
Palmyra
was in ancient times an important city of central Syria, located in an
oasis 215 km northeast of Damascus and 180 km southwest of the
Euphrates at Deir ez-Zor. It has long been a vital caravan city for
travellers crossing the Syrian desert and was known as the Bride of the
Desert. The earliest documented reference to the city by its Semitic
name Tadmor, Tadmur or Tudmur (which means “the town that repels” in
Amorite and “the indomitable town” in Aramaic.) is recorded in
Babylonian tablets found in Mari. Though the ancient site fell into
disuse after the 16th century, it is still known as Tadmor in Arabic,
and there is a newer town next to the ruins of the same name. The
Palmyrenes constructed a series of large-scale monuments containing
funerary art such as limestone slabs with human busts representing the
deceased.
48. Hagia Sophia (Turkey)
Hagia
Sophia is a former Orthodox patriarchal basilica, later a mosque, now a
museum in Istanbul, Turkey. Famous in particular for its massive dome,
it is considered the epitome of Byzantine architecture and to have
“changed the history of architecture.” It was the largest cathedral in
the world for nearly a thousand years, until the completion of the
Seville Cathedral in 1520. The current building was originally
constructed as a church between 532 and 537 A.D. on the orders of the
Byzantine Emperor Justinian, and was in fact the third Church of the
Holy Wisdom to occupy the site.
49. Sultan Ahmed Mosque (Turkey)
The
Sultan Ahmed Mosque (Turkish: Sultanahmet Camii) is a historical mosque
in Istanbul, the largest city in Turkey and the capital of the Ottoman
Empire (from 1453 to 1923). The mosque is popularly known as the Blue
Mosque for the blue tiles adorning the walls of its interior. It was
built between 1609 and 1616, during the rule of Ahmed I. Like many
other mosques, it also comprises a tomb of the founder, a madrasah and
a hospice. While still used as a mosque, the Sultan Ahmed Mosque has
also become a popular tourist attraction of Istanbul.
50. Library of Celsus (Turkey)
The
library of Celsus, in Ephesus, Asia Minor (Anatolia, now Turkey), was
built in honor of Tiberius Julius Celsus Polemaeanus (completed in 135
AD) by Celsus’ son, Gaius Julius Aquila (consul, 110 AD). Celsus had
been consul in 92 AD, governor of Asia in 115 AD, and a wealthy and
popular local citizen. The library was built to store 12,000 scrolls
and to serve as a monumental tomb for Celsus. It was unusual to be
buried within a library or even within city limits, so this was a
special honor for Celsus. The building is important as one of few
remaining examples of an ancient Roman-influenced library. It also
shows that public libraries were built not only in Rome itself but
throughout the Roman Empire.
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