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20 Iconic Historical Landmarks to see Around the World


 

Landmarks consist of anything easily recognizable such as buildings or monuments, and mostly designated places that interest tourists. Fortunately, there are many preserved landmarks where we can learn the history of civilization and how things used to be in ancient times. If you are a travel enthusiast, you should visit these 20 iconic historical landmarks to see around the world to your buck list.

1. The Great Wall of China

The Great Wall of China at Mutianyu, near Beijing, in July 2006. Photo by Nicolas Perrault III- Wikimedia

The wall is, about 2300 years, was built across the historical northern borders of ancient Chinese states and Imperial China as a protection against various nomadic groups from the Eurasian Steppe. It took many years for various dynasties to complete the 13000 miles wall, which can be seen from space. 

Some wall sections are more popular than others, the most visited being the section in Beijing and Juyongguan. An exciting activity you can do on the wall is to sleep in a watchtower. Over 10 million people visit the historical site each year.

Read more on: Top 15 Facts about the Great Wall of China

2. The Pyramids of Giza

The Great Pyramid of Giza is the largest Egyptian pyramid and the tomb of the fourth dynasty pharaoh Khufu. It is one of the most ancient locations and oldest tourist attractions in the world. The pyramids can be visited on the outside on foot or camelback; one can go inside as the pyramid’s interior is breathtaking and can be accessed by paying a fee. Also, a unique experience, you can book the hotels and restaurants near the pyramids, which have a beautiful view.

3. Machu Picchu- Peru

Machu Picchu. Photo by Pedro Szekely- Wikimedia

Machu Picchu is a 15th-century Inca citadel situated in the Eastern Cordillera of southern Peru and the most visited place in Peru. In ancient times, it served as the personal estate of Emperor Pachacuti. Machu Picchu has more than 150 preserved buildings that tourists can tour, see the drystone walls that fuse huge blocks, and hike lovers can hike through the famous Inca Trail, which might take four days for the whole experience.

4. Taj Mahal- India

It is one of the most significant architectural in Agra, Uttar Pradesh, India, also known as the “Crown of Palaces.” The Taj Mahal is a white marble commissioned in 1631 by the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan to house the tomb of his third wife, Mumtaz Mahal, who died during childbirth. It also houses the tomb of Shah Jahan himself.

5. Stonehenge-England

Stonehenge is a prehistoric monument on Salisbury Plain in Wiltshire, England, two miles west of Amesbury, and it consists of a ring of standing stones. While visiting Europe, you can’t miss visiting it; it is believed that it used to be a burial site and was later converted to a place for holding ceremonies by Celtic druids.

Also read: Top 10 Facts about Stonehenge

6. Burj Khalifa- Dubai

Photo by JESHOOTS- Pixabay

Burj Khalifa is a skyscraper in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, which was inaugurated in 2010, and it’s known for being the world’s tallest building. The building has a total height of 829.9 meters and a roof height of 828 meters, excluding the antenna but including a 223 meters spire. On the 124th, there is an observation deck called “At the Top,” which features the electronic telescope. This device allows visitors to view the nearby landscape in real-time and to view already saved images, such as those taken at separate times of the day or under different weather conditions.

7. Petra- Jordan

Petra is a historical city in southern Jordan adjacent to the mountain of Jabal Al-Madbah. Petra is one of the coolest ancient places to explore, and it has many historical places to visit in the location. There are breathtaking temples, canyons, tombs, and other ancient edifices.

Some places to see include the monastery, the royal tombs, the street of facades, the treasury, and the high place of sacrifice.

8. The Colosseum- Italy

The Colosseum was built in the times of the Roman Empire, and it was a first-century amphitheater with 50,000 seats built by Emperor Vespasian to entertain the Roman people. It could hold 80,000 spectators and was used for gladiatorial contests and public spectacles, including re-enactments of famous battles, animal hunts, executions, dramas based on Roman mythology, and briefly mock sea battles. You can explore the arena floor to explore the hypogeum, where its believed pulley and elevators were used to lift gladiators, contestants, and caged animals into view.

9. The Leaning Tower of Pisa- Italy

Photo by JimboChan- Pixabay

  The Leaning Tower of Pisa is the standing bell tower of Pisa Cathedral; it’s known for its nearly four-degree lean due to an unstable foundation. For the past 20 years, the Italian government has taken measures to strengthen the tower, and this made it slowly strengthen itself.

10. Chichen Itza: Yucatan, Mexico

Chichen Itza was a big pre-Columbian city built by the Maya people of the Terminal Classic period. Tourists watch the setting sun cast a moving, serpent-like shadow across the Pyramid of Kukulkan (or El Castillo). The structure’s intricate design serves as a clock, a temple, and a Mayan calendar, and its 365 steps honor the feathered serpent god, Quetzalcoatl. Chichen Itza was also voted one of the new Seven Wonders of the World.

Check out: Top 10 facts about Chichen Itza

11. Angkor Wat- Cambodia

Angkor Wat is a temple complex in Cambodia and the world’s biggest religious monument. It was initially built as a Hindu temple committed to the god Vishnu for the Khmer Empire by king Suryavarman II. It was slowly transformed into a Buddhist temple towards the end of the 12th century. 

The main temple Wat is a 213-foot-tall tower surrounded by four smaller towers, terraces, and moats. The structure mimics Mount Meru, a mythological abode of the Hindu gods.

12. Auschwitz- Poland

Photo by peter89ba- Pixabay

Its iron gate is inscribed “Arbeit Match Frei” (Work Makes You Free) and leads into Auschwitz-Birkenau, Europe’s largest concentration camp. Auschwitz had over 40 concentration and extermination camps operated by Nazi Germany in Poland during World War II and the Holocaust.

The historical site has heavy emotional energy; it features a forced labor camp, a death camp, gas chambers, and crematoria from 1940- 1945. Many people, mostly Jews, were killed. You can always book a guide to take you through the camp’s history, some buildings are preserved exactly how they were found and a museum where you can learn about everything that happened here.

13. Terracotta Army- China

 It features a collection of terracotta sculptures depicting the armies of Qin Shi Huang, the first emperor of China. It’s a form of funerary art buried with the emperor to protect him in his afterlife. The terracotta army also included horses and chariots. Once you visit, you have the option of hiring a guide or being part of a private tour to learn the history of the site.

14. Meteora- Greece

Meteora is a rock formation in central Greece with one of the largest and host complexes of Eastern Orthodox monasteries. It has six monasteries built on very tall rock pillars near the town of Kalabaka. However, the location is not easily accessible; tourists must hike through the forest to get to them and will need a map.

15. The Sydney Opera House- Australia

Photo by pattyjansen- Pixabay

The opera house is a multi-venue performing arts center located on the foreshore of Sydney Harbor. It is popularly regarded as one of the world’s most famous and distinctive buildings and a masterpiece of 20th-century architecture. The multi-venues host over 1,500 performances annually attended by more than 1.2 million people. Most visitors take a guided tour of the building each year.

16. Hoi An- Vietnam

Hoi An is an ancient city in Vietnam’s Quang Nam Province; it’s recognized as a well-preserved example of a Southeast Asian trading port from the 15th century to the 19th century. Historical sites surround the whole area, but the most popular ones are the Japanese Bridge, the Quan Cong Temple, the Phung Hung House, and the Traditional Theatre. The city has a nearby village, Tra Que Village, a place to experience a feel of traditional local life.

17. Old Bagan- Myanmar

Photo by ngd3- Pixabay

This ancient city of Bagan has over 5000 temples and pagodas over an area of 25 square miles. Old Bagan is a popular travel destination in Myanmar. A hot air balloon is a popular activity to see the ancient city from above. The best way to tour the place alone is by renting an electric bike. You can also visit Minnanthu Village to learn about local culture and unique crafts.

18. London Eye

London Eye is also called Millennium Wheel, a cantilevered observation wheel on the South Bank of the River Thames in London. It is the tallest cantilevered observation wheel in Europe and the most paid tourist attraction in the United Kingdom, with over three million visitors annually. It has made many appearances in popular culture.

19. Mount Kilimanjaro, Tanzania

Photo by antonytrivet- Pixabay

Mount Kilimanjaro is a dormant volcano in Tanzania; it has three volcanic cones, Kibo, Shira, and Mawenzi. It is the highest mountain in Africa and the highest single free-standing mountain above sea level worldwide. The mountain attracts thousands of tourists from all over the world.

20. Borobudur- Indonesia

Borobudur is a Buddhist temple that is one of the best-preserved temples, located near Yogyakarta on Java Island. It had been abandoned and remained hidden for centuries but was restored and opened to the public in the 19th century. It’s advisable to hire a tour guide to learn about its rich history.

Also read: Top 10 Unbelievable facts about Borobudur, Indonesia