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Places where every cultured person dreams of visiting.
Experts from the world's largest travel site TripAdvisor have compiled a ranking of 25 cultural sites that were most highly rated by tourists from around the globe.
In general, if you have not yet decided on your vacation plans, in this review website you can find some great ideas. For the next 25 holidays.
1. Machu Picchu, Peru
Machu Picchu, recognized as one of the New Wonders of the World, is located in modern Peru, at the top mountain range at an altitude of 2450 meters above sea level. It is called "the city in the sky" or "the city among the clouds", sometimes called " lost city Incas." Some archaeologists believe that the city was created as a sacred mountain retreat by the great Inca ruler Pachacutec around 1440, and functioned until 1532, when the Spanish invaded the Inca Empire. In 1532, all its inhabitants mysteriously disappeared.
2. Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, Abu Dhabi, UAE
Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque is one of the six largest mosques in the world. Named after Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan al-Nahyan, the founder and first president of the United Nations United Arab Emirates. Unlike many other Muslim temples, everyone is allowed into it, regardless of faith.
3. Taj Mahal, Agra, India
The Taj Mahal Mausoleum is one of the most recognizable landmarks not only in India but throughout the world. The structure was built by Emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his third wife, Mumtaz Mahal, who died during childbirth. The Taj Mahal is considered one of the most beautiful buildings in the world and also a symbol of eternal love.
4. Mezquita, Cordoba, Spain
Walls decorated with intricate patterns, mosaic ornaments, hundreds of thin openwork columns - this is how the Cathedral Mosque of Cordoba appears today. Many centuries ago, there was an ancient Roman temple on this site, then it was replaced by a Visigothic church, and in 785 the Mezquita appeared. It became the second most important mosque on the planet, and the pilgrimage to Cordoba was even equated to the obligatory hajj to Mecca for every Muslim. But then the Catholics replaced the Moors, and Mezquita was turned into a Christian temple.
5. St. Peter's Basilica, Vatican, Italy
The heart of the Vatican and the entire Catholic world, St. Peter's Basilica is one of the main attractions of Rome. Here you can view ancient Rome from a bird's eye view, admire the interior of the cathedral from the top of the dome, celebrate Mass and even receive the blessing of the pontiff.
6. Angkor Wat, Siem Reap, Cambodia
The Cambodian temple Angkor Wat is the largest religious building ever created, the history of which goes back almost 9 centuries. Even its name speaks about the monumentality of the temple complex, because Angkor Wat literally translates as Temple City. It covers an area of 200 hectares and is surrounded by a moat 190 meters wide. This colossal structure is dedicated to the god Vishnu, revered in this area.
7. Bayon Temple Complex, Siem Reap, Cambodia
Bayon is one of the most amazing temples located on the territory of Angkor Thom and was its religious center. The “highlight” of Bayon are the towers with many faces carved from stone, silently looking from above over the vast territory of Angkor Thom, and during the heyday of the state, over the entire Khmer Empire. Initially, there were 54 towers, which symbolized the 54 provinces under the rule of the king. Today, only about 37 towers remain.
8. Cathedral of the Resurrection of Christ on the Blood, St. Petersburg, Russia
The Cathedral of the Resurrection of Christ, better known as the Church of the Savior on Blood, became the only Russian attraction on Trip Advisor's list. The Savior on Spilled Blood attracts tourists from all over the world not only with the splendor of its domes and interiors, but also with its unusual history, which has given rise to many legends and speculations. Many of them are related to the fact that the temple was erected on the spot where on March 1, 1881, the People’s Volunteer I. Grinevitsky mortally wounded Alexander II, who was popularly called the Tsar Liberator for the abolition of serfdom.
9. Gettysburg National Military Park, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania
10. Walls of the old city, Dubrovnik, Croatia
In 1979, UNESCO introduced Old town Dubrovnik to the list World Heritage, including a significant part of the ancient walls of the city. They surround the city on all four sides and house a venerable collection historical monuments, including towers, fortresses, churches, monasteries, squares and streets, schools, museums and galleries. Built for defensive purposes, these stone walls have protected its citizens since the founding of Dubrovnik in the 6th century.
11. Shwedagon Pagoda, Yangon, Myanmar
Shwedagon Pagoda is the tallest spiritual building in Myanmar, or, as it is also called, the Land of Pagodas. The entire complex of the giant pagoda occupies more than five hectares of land, on which, in addition to the main structure, there are many smaller spiers and countless sculptures of mythical and real animals : golden griffins and elephants, dragons and lions. The Shwedagon Pagoda became what it is today in the 15th century, during the reign of Queen Shinsobu. It was then that the gigantic temple was finally given the shape of an inverted begging bowl and sheathed in gold from top to bottom.
12. Lincoln Memorial and Reflecting Pool, Washington, DC
The Lincoln Memorial is a majestic temple made in the ancient Greek style and somewhat reminiscent of the Parthenon. It is supported by 36 white marble columns, representing the number of states that belonged to the United States at the time of President Lincoln's death. In the center of the temple is a statue of the world's most respected American president sitting in a chair. Its height is 5.79 meters.
13. Ancient City of Petra, Petra/Wadi Musa, Jordan
In the heart of Jordan, in the Wadi Musa valley, deep in the sandy mountains is located amazing city antiquity of Peter. Petra was originally a temporary refuge for the nomadic Nabatean tribes. From several fortified rock caves, it gradually grew into a large fortified city. There is only one way to get to the city - through the narrow Siq gorge, which was once the bed of a mountain stream. Petra still belongs to the Bedouins, who warmly welcome guests to their land.
14. Section of the Great Wall of China Mutianyu, Beijing, China
On no other section of the Great Wall of China were restoration work carried out as well as on the Mutianyu section. This site, with 22 watchtowers that have retained their original appearance, is a true architectural masterpiece. The phrase Mutianyu from Chinese is translated as “a valley in which you can admire the views of the fields.” Among all the sections of the Great Wall of China, Mutianyu is the longest fully restored section open to tourists.
15. Ancient city of Ephesus, Selcuk, Türkiye
The largest and best-preserved ancient city on the Aegean Sea and the second most important after Pompeii in the Mediterranean, ancient Ephesus is the most visited attraction in Turkey. Legends connect the appearance of the city with the name of Androcles, the son of the ruler of Athens, Codra, who, on the advice of an oracle, arrived in these places to found the temple of Artemis. The city got its name from the Amazon Ephesia, Androcles' lover.
16. Alhambra, Spain
Alhambra (Arabic Al Hamra - literally "Red Castle") is ancient palace and the fortress of the Moorish rulers of the province of Granada in southern Spain. The castle occupies the top of a rocky plateau on the southeastern border of Granada. The name Alhambra probably comes from the color of the sun-dried clay or bricks from which the castle walls are made. However, some historians suggest that the name came from the “red flame of torches” that illuminated the many years of construction of the castle, which went on around the clock.
17. Australian War Memorial, Canberra, Australia
The Australian War Memorial is the main memorial dedicated to the memory of soldiers killed during the First and Second World Wars. Today it is considered one of the most significant monuments of its kind in the world. The memorial is located near the Parliament building, from the balcony of which a 360-degree panorama of the monument opens.
18. Siena Cathedral, Siena, Italy
According to the chronicles, at the beginning of the 13th century, the inhabitants of the city-state of Siena, which acted as the main competitor and adversary of Florence, “called upon their leaders to build a temple more magnificent than that of their neighbors.” So, between 1215 and 1263, on the site of the old temple, the Duomo of Siena was founded according to the plan of the Gothic master Niccolò Pisano. Today this majestic temple is the main attraction of the city.
19. Milan Cathedral (Duomo), Milan, Italy
The most important place in Milan is the Cathedral of Santa Maria Nascente (Duomo), a pearl of Italian Gothic architecture, which was built from 1386 to the beginning of the 19th century. The third largest Catholic church on the planet can easily be considered one of the wonders of the world. Its hundred-meter-tall spiers tower over the center of Milan, and the golden statue of the Madonna on the longest spire (four meters high) is visible from many parts of the city.
22. Christ the Redeemer Statue, Rio de Janeiro
The Christ the Redeemer statue in Rio de Janeiro is one of the most famous and popular monuments in the world. Every year, millions of tourists climb to its foot, from where a stunning panorama of the city and the bay opens up. picturesque mountain Sugar Loaf, the famous beaches of Copacabana and Ipanema, the huge bowl of the Maracana stadium.
23. Teotihuacan, San Juan Teotihuacan, Mexico
Name ancient settlement Teotihucan is translated from the Aztec language as “the city where people become gods.” According to legend, after the Great Flood, the gods returned to Teotihuacan to re-create the world. Modern researchers believe that the area of this ancient settlement was 26-28 square kilometers, and the population was about 200 thousand people. It is one of the oldest and largest cities in the Western Hemisphere, the exact age of which is still unknown.
As you know, the list of the most famous ancient attractions of ancient culture includes only seven wonders. But we plucked up courage and included three more buildings in it that, in our opinion, are worthy of your attention. So.
Ajanta or Ajanta Caves is a Buddhist temple and monastery complex located near the village of the same name, 100 km northeast of the city of Aurangabad, Maharashtra state, India. It was discovered in 1839. It is a horseshoe-shaped cliff, in which, starting from the 2nd century BC. e. to the 5th century AD e. 30 (according to other sources 29) caves with columns, Buddha statues and world-famous wall paintings reflecting the life of India of that era were carved. This painting, illustrating Buddhist legends and myths, is not only a work of art, but also a valuable historical source of knowledge about those times.
Newgrange
Newgrange is an ancient structure made of huge blocks of stone, one of the largest and oldest corridor tombs, built by man approximately between 3000 BC. e. - 2500 BC e. (older than the Great Pyramid of Giza and probably Stonehenge). Located 40.2 km north of the city of Dublin, approximately one kilometer north of the River Boyne, County Meath, Ireland. The height of the mound is 13.5 meters, diameter is 85 meters. Ancient people built it from 200,000 tons of stone, wood and earth. It is a large round mound inside, which contains a 19-meter stone corridor leading to the burial chamber. Included in the list of the most mysterious attractions in the world.
Derinkuyu
Derinkuyu is an ancient multi-level underground city located under the city of the same name in Nevsehir province, Türkiye. It was built in the II-I millennium BC. e. Discovered in 1963. The underground city reaches a depth of 60 meters and in ancient times could shelter up to 20 thousand people along with food and livestock. Here people hid for centuries from raids by nomads, religious persecution and other dangers. Although the Derinkuyu underground city was intended as a temporary shelter, its scale is impressive. It includes numerous wine cellars, stables, cellars, warehouses, refectories, chapels, numerous ventilation ducts, and a complex network of tunnels and corridors.
7 Wonders of the Ancient World
Alexandria Lighthouse- a lighthouse built according to the design of the architect Sostratus of Knidus approximately in 279-280. BC e. on the island of Pharos, near Alexandria in Egypt, so that ships could safely pass the reefs on their way to Alexandria Bay. According to estimates, its light was visible at a distance of 51 km (according to other sources, up to 83 km). It is assumed that the Alexandria Lighthouse was about 115–120 meters high and at that time was the most tall building in the world. In the 14th century, it was completely destroyed by an earthquake, and in its place, by order of the then Sultan of Egypt Qaitbay (1416/1418–1496), the Qait Bay fortress was erected, which today is maritime museum.
The Colossus of Rhodes is a bronze statue of the ancient Greek sun god Helios built between 292 BC. e. - 280 BC e. in the harbor of the port city of Rhodes on the island of the same name in the Aegean Sea in Greece. It was built according to the design of the architect Chares, a student of Lysippos, in honor of the victory of the inhabitants of Rhodes over the ruler of Cyprus, Antigonus I One-Eye, who, together with his son and an army of 40,000 people, unsuccessfully besieged the city in 305 BC. The height of the statue is about 30 meters. It stood on a 10-meter pedestal and weighed, according to various estimates, from 30 to 70 tons. Compared to other wonders of the world, the Colossus of Rhodes “lived” a short life. About 50 years after its creation, it was completely destroyed by an earthquake and melted down.
In fifth place on the list is the “Mausoleum at Halicarnassus” - a tomb built between 353 and 350 BC. e. in Halicarnassus (modern city of Bodrum, Turkey) for the king of Caria Mausolus and his sister-wife Artemisia III. Famous craftsmen were involved in the construction and decoration of the tomb, including the famous sculptors Skopas, Briaxides, Timotheos and Leochares. The tomb of Mausolus was a majestic and unusually shaped building, built of brick and lined with white marble inside and out. The 45-meter-high mausoleum in Halicarnassus stood for approximately 19 centuries, but collapsed in the 13th century due to a strong earthquake.
The Statue of Zeus at Olympia is an ancient Greek statue of Zeus that was located in the center of the temple of the same name at Olympia on the Peloponnese Peninsula. It was erected in the 5th century BC by the ancient Greek sculptor and architect Phidias. The statue of the god reached 12–13 meters in height and was made of wood (according to some sources, from cedar, according to others, from ebony). On this wooden base, using bronze and iron nails and special hooks, parts from ivory, gold and precious stones. The circumstances surrounding the possible destruction of the statue are unknown. According to information from the Byzantine historian George Kedrin, it was transported to Constantinople, where it burned down during a fire in 476.
Temple of Artemis of Ephesus - a Greek temple located in the city of Ephesus, Asia Minor (near modern city Selcuk, Türkiye). It was dedicated to Artemis, the Greek goddess of the hunt. Temple built in the middle of the 6th century BC. e, was a rectangular building 105 meters long and 51 meters wide, consisting of marble and wood, and surrounded on all sides by a double row of 127 columns, the height of which was 18 meters. Throughout its existence, it was rebuilt three times until July 21, 356 BC. e. was not set on fire by Herostratus, a resident of Ephesus who dreamed of becoming famous at any cost.
The Hanging Gardens of Babylon, more correctly called the Hanging Gardens of Amytis, is the only one of the seven wonders of the world whose location has not been definitively established. It is believed that the Hanging Gardens were built around 575 BC. e. V ancient city Babylon (near the modern city of Hilla, in Iraq), by King Nebuchadnezzar II, for his wife Amytis, who missed the forests of her homeland. They are a pyramid consisting of four tiers-platforms supported by columns up to 25 m high. On these tiers a thick carpet lay fertile soil, where seeds of various herbs, flowers, shrubs, and trees native to Media were planted. The pyramid resembled an ever-blooming green hill. However, after in 331 BC. e. The troops of Alexander the Great captured Babylon, and the great commander himself died, the city gradually fell into decay. The gardens were abandoned and eventually destroyed.
The Pyramid of Cheops is the largest of the Egyptian pyramids, the only one of the "Seven Wonders of the World" that has survived to this day, and one of the most famous tombs in the world. The pyramid is located on the west bank of the Nile in Egypt on the Giza plateau, in close proximity to the famous “Great Sphinx”. The lion's share of Egyptologists believe that the pyramid was built around 2560 BC. e. and is a tomb Egyptian pharaoh IV dynasty of Khufu (Cheops). It is believed that it was designed by the architect Hemion, the nephew of Cheops. Initially, the pyramid had a height of 146.5 m, but as a result of erosion, today its height is 138.75 m. The total weight of the pyramid is estimated at about 6.25 million tons, the area is ≈ 85,000 m².
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Modern architecture amazes our imagination. Looking at some buildings and structures that can hardly be called buildings, you just wonder how people can live and work in them? But most of them are residential buildings or shopping and office centers, and some are exhibition complexes and concert halls. They were designed by designers and architects with truly wild imagination, and then it’s worth looking at them and learning more about them. We offer you the ten most unusual architectural structures on our planet.
1. Ark Nova, Japan
The name of this building translates as “ New Ark", it is nothing more than a concert hall. However, this is not just a hall, but the world's first inflatable and mobile performance hall. It was designed in the form of a huge purple-pink drop, which in its design resembles an air cushion. The authors of the project are British sculptor Anish Kapoor and Japanese architect Arata Isozaki. The first performance at Ark Nova took place in October last year, and it was built on east coast Japan - especially to support the spirit of people affected by the tsunami. Even the seats and benches here are made from pieces of trees damaged during the disaster. This should become a symbol of the fact that after any trouble you need to be reborn and move on with your life. According to the architects, the Ark Nova Hall will become the largest inflatable concert hall in the world. The height of Ark Nova is 18 meters, width is 35 meters, it can accommodate about 500 spectators. The main advantage of the unusual hall is its ease of transportation - just deflate the air and transport the hall to another place.
2. Sundome, Michigan, USA
An unusual structure resembling a honeycomb at a Michigan exhibition pavilion consists of many circles. They, in turn, are made of a special material - archila - very light and bendable, which contains fiberglass and carbon. The so-called “Sun Dome” illuminates the entire pavilion with its ghostly multi-colored light, which comes from elements at the base of the structure. These elements store solar energy throughout the day and then project light onto the dome. The installation was created by the art studio “Loop.pH” and, according to the creative director of the studio, it represents a fundamentally new method of construction based on the technique of textile weaving. The size of the “Solar Dome” is 8 by 4 meters and its weight is about 40 kilograms. This portable structure looks surprisingly harmonious in any environment.
3. House of Mirrors, Flint, USA
Would you like to live in a house of mirrors, and one that floats above the ground? Hardly. That is why no one lives here, and the house of mirrors in the city of Flint is a kind of monument to home comfort. It was built by London architects from the Two Islands firm, who dedicated their creation to the thousands of demolished houses in the city of Flint, residents who were forced to leave this city. It was in Flint that the once legendary automobile company General Motors was born; later it began to move production to other regions and countries, and the city began to slowly fade without it. The English name of the building “Mark's House” (“Mark’s House”) arose from the story of an imaginary resident of Flint, Mark Hamilton, whose family lost their home during the aforementioned economic crisis. The brilliant house, rising on a pedestal, weighs almost two tons. its half - 882 lightboxes, which present hundreds of photographs of faces, in particular, portraits of those who supported the initiative to create the “House of Mirrors” financially - and, unfortunately, no more than 90 of these people gathered around the world.
4. Lotus Dome, Jerusalem, Israel
There are many mysterious places in Jerusalem. One of them is Zedekiah's Cave - the largest and most mysterious cave in the northern part of the Old City wall. It is named after the last king of Judah, Zedekiah, and during the time of King Solomon, limestone was mined here. In the very center of the cave there is a very unusual dome lamp “Lotus Dome”, made of several hundred aluminum flowers that open their petals, turning towards people. The huge flower remains motionless until the first visitors appear in the hall. As soon as people enter the room, the petals begin to bloom one after another, illuminating the entire surrounding space with light streaming from the center of the dome. The closer visitors get to the installation, the more noticeable the movements of the metal petals become - and now the entire “organism” of this huge silver ball becomes mobile. The author of the project is Dutch designer Dan Rosegaarde, his installation attracts tourists to the cave.
5. Smart eco-house, Sweden
But you definitely wouldn’t refuse to live in such a house, although the area it occupies is only 750-0_bgblur_10 square meters! The author of this project was the Swedish architectural company Tengboom Architects. According to the developers, this house will be an excellent alternative to student dormitories, and also very environmentally friendly. The house is designed for one person; the developers managed to place in it a kitchen, a bathroom, a place to study and sleep, i.e., everything necessary for a student’s full-fledged life. A light color scheme with bright spots of color helps create a comfortable living atmosphere. The successful layout, the presence of two levels, and the use of natural laminated wood made it possible to reduce not only the rent, but also the harmful impact on the environment.
6. Bamboo House, Vietnam
Vietnam has very treacherous natural conditions. Therefore, it is not at all surprising that it was here that the creation of the world’s strongest bamboo house, which can withstand a flood with a water level of 1.5 meters, was conceived and brought to life. The authors of the project, the Vietnamese architectural studio H&P Architects, do not intend to stop there and are checking whether the house can withstand a water height of three meters. The building is multifunctional and can be not only a residential building, but also a public one - a school, a hospital, etc. The building materials used for the house are bamboo, fiberboard, and coconut leaves. The roof can be opened and closed, depending on weather conditions. Downstairs there is a bedroom and living room, and upstairs you can arrange an office. The building is modular, costs about $2,500, and the buyer can assemble it themselves in just 25 days.
7. House with a Slipping Facade, Margate, UK
Walking through the British city of Margate, you may be incredibly surprised to come across a three-story house with... a facade that has slid down. The first floor with the front door seems to lie directly on the ground, and the upper floor is open. Don’t be surprised, the reason for this façade “slipping” out of its place is not a natural disaster or construction flaws, but just the wild imagination of designer Alex Chinnak. By the way, it took him almost a year to create the installation. The house had been abandoned for a long time. The building was once purchased by the municipality and was intended to be converted into social housing. But time passed, and the building became more and more unusable and collapsed. The designer removed the facade from the old three-story building and replaced it with a new wall. The new façade reveals the crumbling upper floor of the house, wraps around the ground and sits comfortably on the ground in front of the building.
8. House-banknote, Kaunas, Lithuania
A very unusual and very realistic structure in the form of a rolled up banknote issued by Lithuania during the years of independence, in fact it is a large business center called “Office Center 750-0_bgblur_1000”. It is quite natural that it housed the two largest Lithuanian banks. The project was completely developed and implemented by RA Studija and the young Lithuanian architect Rimas Adomaitis. One day, a famous specialist says that this building should never symbolize the power of money over people and universal admiration for it, which is why not a modern, but a historical banknote was taken. The facade is decorated with glass tiles of various shapes and sizes, made in Holland. The house has no windows in the usual sense of the word, because the entire facade of the building is glass. On the outside, the glass has a special coating that protects the design from adverse weather conditions. It was assembled by hand by a large number of builders; it was a large and painstaking job.
9. Atomium, Brussels, Belgium
Not only the most modern sculptures, buildings and structures can capture our imagination. What can you say about the sculpture, built back in 1958? This is one of the main attractions of Brussels and a real symbol of the city called Atomium. It was designed for the opening of the 1958 World's Fair by architect André Waterkein as a symbol of the atomic age and the peaceful use of atomic energy, and was built under the direction of architects André and Michel Polack. The majestic sculpture is a huge model of an iron crystal. Initially, the structure was covered with aluminum, and after a major renovation in 2750-0_bgblur_0750-0_bgblur_06 - a strong and durable steel shell that sparkled in the sun. The height of the Atomium is 1750-0_bgblur_02 meters, the weight is about 2400 tons, and the diameter of each of the nine spheres is 18 meters. The spheres are connected by 23 m long pipes containing escalators and corridors. There are a total of 20 connecting pipes between the balls. In the middle of them there is an elevator capable of lifting visitors to the restaurant and observation platform, located in the highest ball of the Atomium, in 25 seconds.
750-0_bgblur_10. Art Museum building, Graz, Austria
At first glance at this unusual building, it is difficult to believe that it houses an art museum. However, this is so, and local residents affectionately and humorously call the Kunsthaus “the pregnant cow.” The gallery of contemporary art was opened as part of the “ Capital of Culture Europe" in 2750-0_bgblur_0750-0_bgblur_03, the title of which was awarded to Graz. The building concept was developed by London architects Peter Cook and Colin Fournier. The architectural style of the building defies any classification and contrasts sharply with the surrounding buildings. But what is unique about the building is that it can “communicate” with the outside world. The facade of the museum is designed as a media installation with an area of 900 square meters, consisting of luminous elements that can be programmed using a computer. Despite its relatively short existence, the museum building has won a lot of sympathy local residents and tourists and is recognized as a symbol of the city and its modern life.
It is generally accepted that Ancient world is a set of civilizations that existed on earth from prehistoric times to the beginning of the Middle Ages. The framework is very conventional - for them they are their own, for America - theirs (the beginning of the colonization of the continent by Europeans).
Amazing Legacy
During this time period, there were several civilizations with their own culture. Famous buildings and buildings of antiquity have survived to this day. There are not so few of them, but the most striking heritage sites of the past include such as the “City in the Sky” or Machu Picchu in Peru, the Temple of Jupiter Baalbek in Lebanon, the famous Egyptian pyramids Giza, a suburb of Cairo. The list of antiquities includes the aqueducts of the Roman Empire, the glazed windows of Alexandria dating back to the first century AD, the remains of Greek temples, the Jervan aqueduct in Iraq, and the concrete domes of Roman temples.
Civilizations close to us
Every continent is sure to have ancient sites. But for the inhabitants of Europe (in the geographical sense of the word), the Ancient World is associated primarily with Greece and Rome, with the Egyptian Cleopatra, since both Julius Caesar and Anthony loved her.
In addition, they and other ancient Roman emperors dreamed of enslaving Egypt. Russian literature and art until the beginning of the 20th century were associated with the myths of Greece and Rome. And Mediterranean civilizations are considered the cradle of humanity. Therefore, we need to start looking in more detail at the famous structures and buildings of antiquity with Greece and Rome.
Acropolis - the pearl of world architecture
In Greece there are a lot of monuments dating back to prehistoric times, and the entire country is dotted with the ruins of ancient Greek palaces and places of worship. It is quite difficult to count them, but there are objects that are considered symbols of the Ancient World. The most important of them is the Acropolis, located in the continental part of the country in the city of Athens. This is a kind of fortress, standing on a hill, the height of which reaches 156 meters in height, its width is 300 m, and its length is 170. It is a well-fortified upper city, towering above the unprotected lower one. The Acropolis was the place where the temples of the gods, the patrons of this city, were located; residents could hide in it during the war. The majestic Acropolis of Athens is its history well studied.
Parthenon - the dominant feature of the Acropolis
It should be noted that sculptures and statues from this Acropolis are in many museums around the world. It houses 21 objects, the most significant of which is the Parthenon - the calling card of not only Greece, but the entire Ancient World.
Listed as one of the World's Greatest Temples, it was built on the foundations of more than ancient temple in the 5th century BC by the architects Callicrates and Iktin. He dominates the entire area. This ideal, harmonious structure is rich in unique features. But dozens of books have been written about every smallest detail. The only thing that can be noted is that it is surrounded all around the perimeter by columns (this form is called a peripter). This is what makes the temple irresistibly beautiful.
Athens - a treasure trove of ancient architecture
Other buildings of Ancient Greece on the territory of the sacred center of the Acropolis are represented by such temples as the Erechtheion, dedicated to the legendary Athenian king Erechtheus, the Areopagus (authority), and the temple of Athena Nike. Throughout the capital there are ruins of many other temples, since all of Greece is a museum ancient culture open air. These are the temples of Olympian Zeus, Nike Aptera, Apollo in Delphi, Poseidon at Cape Sounion, Hera on the Peloponnese peninsula, and Demeter at Eleusis. These are the most famous structures and buildings of antiquity created in Greece.
Priority of religious buildings
In a later period, one of the first meteorological structures was built in Athens - the Tower of the Winds, 12 meters high, with a base diameter of 8 m. The parameters of these ancient museums are perfect, they underlie all architecture and are studied by all architects of the world.
Of all the above-mentioned ancient objects, only the Areopagus is an administrative building, all the rest are places of worship. The largest sanctuary is Olympia, which is located on the Peloponnese peninsula. The cult of Zeus reigned in it.
The main visiting card of Rome
The Great Roman Empire is the oldest civilization in the Mediterranean, emerging from Ancient Greece. According to legend, the direct descendants of Aeneas, the hero of the Trojan War, the brothers Remus and Romulus, suckled by a she-wolf, founded Rome and the greatest empire that gave the world a great culture.
The buildings of ancient Rome in this article are presented by 10 greatest architectural examples, with which many inhabitants of the Earth are familiar, even those far from learning. Who doesn’t know the Colosseum - the main symbol of Rome? A half-destroyed three-tiered outer wall surrounds the oval arena. In ancient times total quantity There are 240 arches on the wall, 80 of them are in the lower tier. In the arches of the first and second floors there were sculptures - the work of the best masters of Rome.
The brightest and most characteristic
The Appian Way is also familiar to many, because they know about the sad death of Spartacus’s companions, chained alive to the pillars located along it, from school. And the final shots of the cult American film touched film lovers in many countries around the world.
The famous buildings and structures of antiquity located in the ancient capital are worthily represented by the Roman Forum, which already during the reign of Tarquicius the Proud became the center of the political, cultural and religious life of the Roman Empire. Here are the temples of Vesta, Vespasian and Saturn. Each of them is associated with tragic or happy pages of ancient history. The perfectly preserved Trajan Column dates back to the beginning of the 2nd century AD. 185 steps located inside lead to observation deck, located at the 38th altitude. The sculptor Apollodorus of Damascus erected it in 114. It symbolizes the victory over the Dacians.
Next on the list
The Roman Pantheon is unique - the temple of all gods. Built in 126 AD, it dominates the Piazza della Rotonda.
You can find out what the famous structures and buildings of antiquity looked like by looking at the marble Arc de Triomphe of Titus. This oldest building was erected in 81 in honor of the capture of Jerusalem. The arch rises above Via Sacra. Single-span, it has a height of 15.4 meters, a width of 13.5 m, a span depth of about 5 meters, its width is 5.33 meters. Any chariot, including a quadriga, could enter such a gate. Bas-reliefs depicting Titus with trophies have been preserved. The Jewish temple was completely destroyed by him, and the victors got its main shrine - the minor. All this can be seen on the bas-relief.
Famous Roman baths and unique temples
The list of masterpieces of ancient Roman architecture continues. Where did this name come from? Caracalla is the nickname of someone who lived in the 3rd century AD. Ancient Roman baths are a special world where the elite of society had fun, played sports, had intellectual disputes, and concluded contracts. The surroundings matched: the walls and the font itself were made of the best varieties of marble, there were sculptures everywhere, including a statue of Apollo Belvedere.
Seventh place in the list of “Architectural structures Ancient Rome"is occupied by a composition of two temples of different configurations - rectangular and round. These temples were erected in honor of Portunus (patron of ports) and Hercules. They are located on the left bank of the Tiber, in the very place where ships used to moor.
Mausoleum and catacombs
At number eight is the Campus Martius - the left bank part of Rome. Next to it is the Mausoleum of Hadrian - an architectural monument-tomb for the imperial family. On a square pedestal with a side equal to 84 meters, there is a cylinder with a diameter of 64 meters, crowned with a statue of the emperor in the image of the Sun God, driving a quadriga (a team of 4 horses). This huge structure was not used for its intended purpose; it became a strategic object.
Last on the list of the most important architectural masterpieces of the Roman Empire are the famous Catacombs. This is a network of buildings (60 in total), interconnected and intended for burials (about 750,000 burials), with a total length of 170 km. Most of them stretch along the Appian Way.
Masterpieces of the East
The greats of the world are worthily complemented by another grandiose monument. This is Great Chinese wall, the length of which from edge to edge is 21,196 kilometers. Built by one fifth (exactly one million) of the country's population in the 3rd century BC, it clearly defined the borders of the state and made China impregnable. This is a unique ancient monument. And the pagodas and Buddhist monasteries India? These are also monuments of the ancient past.
The first Russian pearls of architecture
All of the above, like the buildings of Ancient Rus', belong to the great world heritage. Only our civilization is young compared to others. The architecture of Novgorod, Pskov and Kyiv is considered the most ancient in our country, where from 989 to 996 the Church of the Tithes was erected, destroyed by Batu.
The next oldest architectural monument by our standards Kievan Rus is the Transfiguration Cathedral in Chernigov, well preserved even now, then the St. Sophia Cathedral in Kyiv. The first cross-domed structures were always based on a cross, and the temple was crowned with a dome. Such churches are the main type of ancient religious buildings in Rus'.
Byzantine masters and their creations
The first stone churches were built by masters invited from Byzantium. Russian religious buildings did not blindly repeat Byzantine architecture. Our churches have a strong personality. Yaroslav the Wise took up construction actively and on a grand scale. He, concerned that a huge country had just adopted a new religion, wanted to approve it with the grandiose construction of temples. The largest, which at that time had no analogues anywhere, even in Byzantium, was the 5-nave, 13-domed building built in 1017.
Triumph of Orthodoxy
It was followed by the St. Sophia cathedrals of Novgorod (1045-1050) and Polotsk (1060). They were also considered 5-nave, although most Russian churches are 3-nave. The dome was supported by internal pillars - hence the names: 4-, 6-, or even 8-pillars.
The Assumption Cathedral of the Kiev Pechersk Lavra was built by specially invited Greeks in 1073-1079. This temple, called the “Great Church,” became a model for buildings being built throughout. Such religious buildings as the Vydubetsky Monastery in Kyiv (1070-1081), Spas-on-Berest (1113-1125) belong to a new type of cathedral, since they all had an extension (nartesque) with a staircase. The most ancient temples had no vestibules at all.
From the moment of the construction boom launched by Yaroslav the Wise, all the Grand Dukes were engaged in active urban planning. In addition to architectural monuments, masterpieces of applied art and literature were left to descendants. The Tale of Bygone Years was first mentioned in 852.
Old or new, with complex or simple structures, these are undoubtedly the most beautiful buildings in the world. Take a ride with us and check out these amazing architectural creations built in various cities around the globe.
1. Burj Al Arab, Dubai
Burj Al Arab is recognized as the tallest and most luxurious hotel in the world. Built on our own artificial island in front of Jumeirah Beach, this is a seven-star, sixty-story hotel of fabulous beauty. The building resembles a colorfully lit sailboat that rises 321 meters above sea level.
As for the interior, what can we say? This is a world within a world. Amazing design dancing fountains, huge aquariums, luxurious suites with really gilded details. It is so tall that it can accommodate the Dubai World Trade Centre.
2. Catherine Palace, St. Petersburg
A beautiful Baroque palace of Catherine the Great, with a distinctive blue façade, rebuilt by Empress Elizabeth Petrovna to its current form. Most visitors come to the town of Pushkin near St. Petersburg, home to an impressive palace, to see the famous Amber Room, billed as the eighth wonder of the world. But for many, the most delightful view is the elegant wing in the classical style, designed by Catherine II's favorite architect, Charles Cameron.
3. Guggenheim Museum, Bilbao, Spain
Designed by American architect Frank Gehry, the Guggenheim Museum is a magnificent example of the most innovative ideas in 20th century architecture. With 24,000 m2, of which 11,000 is dedicated to exhibition space, the museum is an architectural landmark of daring configuration and innovative design, providing a seductive backdrop for the works of art displayed within it. This building changed the world's view of modern architecture and museums, and became a symbol of the rebirth of the industrial city of Bilbao. The museum is made of titanium, with wavy lines that change color in the rays of the sun.
4. Great Mosque, Djenne, Mali
In one of the oldest cities in Africa, in the sub-Saharan city of Djenne, you will find this majestic and beautiful building - a mosque built from clay bricks by the Dogon people, an African tribe that uses mud like the ancient Romans used marble. In this region, in the center of a once thriving commercial city, mosques were built in the 13th century AD. The Great Mosque, or Great Mosque of Djenne, dates back to 1906 and is the largest building in the world built entirely from mud. Since 1988, the mosque has been included in the list of the World cultural heritage UNESCO. Its towers are decorated with an ostrich egg, which symbolizes fertility and good luck.
5. Sagrada Familia, Barcelona
The first attraction you need is the Sagrada Familia or the Church of the Sagrada Familia, which was designed by Antoni Gaudi and has become the symbol of the city. The Catalan architect devoted more than 40 years of his life to this colossal and yet unfinished Gothic cathedral, with its huge spiers that seem to touch the clouds and facades that resemble sand sculptures. Gaudí personally supervised the work until he died in 1926. His partners continued the construction, and despite the fact that the original plans were destroyed during civil war in Spain, work continues to this day. In accordance with the projects, completion of the temple is expected in 2026.
6. Taj Mahal, India
The Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan began to build this building in 1632 to bury the remains of his beloved wife. The Taj Mahal stands in Agra, on the southern bank of the Yamuna River. This famous mausoleum complex, built over more than 20 years, is one of the most outstanding examples of Mughal architecture, with Indian, Persian and Islamic influences. Constructed of shimmering white marble that changes color depending on the sunlight or moonlight on its surface. Designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983, the Taj Mahal remains one of the world's most iconic buildings and a stunning symbol. rich history India. Visit this place and see that it is truly one of the most beautiful buildings in the world.
Wat Rong Khun, better known as the "White Temple", is one of the most recognizable temples in Thailand, and undoubtedly one of the most beautiful buildings in the world. The temple is located outside the city of Chiang Rai and attracts a large number of visitors, Thai and foreign, making it one of the most visited attractions in Chiang Rai.
Wat Rong Khun is a unique temple that stands out due to its white color and sparkles in the sun thanks to the use of glass pieces in the plaster. The white color signifies the purity of the Buddha, while the glass symbolizes the wisdom of the Buddha and the Dharma - Buddhist teachings.
The temple building was designed by famous Thai visual artist Chalermchai Kositpipat. To date it has not been completed. One day there would be nine buildings, including a hall containing Buddhist relics, a meditation hall, monks' living quarters and an art gallery.
8. Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque
The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque is located in Abu Dhabi and is the largest marble mosque in the world, with a capacity of 40,000 people. The construction of this building was completed in 2007 after collecting white marble from 28 countries. The main hall has a unique giant lamp decorated with Swarovski crystals, weighing 9 tons, with a diameter and height of 10 and 15 meters respectively.
The next very beautiful building is located in St. Petersburg. This is an impressive church whose construction began in 1883, just above the spot where Emperor Alexander II was assassinated two years earlier. The temple impresses with its multi-colored towers, rich exterior decoration and a particularly impressive interior with mosaics.
