There are many wonderful sights in the world and many buildings that are the "calling cards" of your city or the whole country. Each of them has its own interesting history of creation and unique features. We have compiled a detailed list for you 10 most famous buildings in the world.
10. Hagia Sophia - Istanbul, Turkey
It is considered the embodiment of all the virtues of the "golden age" of Byzantium, which changed the history of world architecture. This magnificent structure remained the largest cathedral in the world for almost a thousand years. It also contains many graffiti inscriptions made by people from Russia. Almost like "Kisa and Osya were here", only in Slavic.
The building was first converted from a cathedral to a mosque and then finally to a museum in 1932. Today it is one of the most beautiful temples in the world... Its second name, which is currently used, is the Hagia Sophia Museum.
9. Eiffel Tower - Paris, France
This is one of those attractions that even those who cannot show France on the world map know about. The Eiffel Tower is one of the most visited architectural monuments in the world, millions of people visit it every year.
The tower was named after Gustave Eiffel, the engineer who designed and built it between 1887 and 1889. Its height reaches 300 meters, which is comparable to the height of an 80-storey building. Visitors have access to three levels of the tower, two of which are restaurants. On the top floor (276 meters above the ground) there is Chamber of Secrets and a platform from which you can view the Paris environs, enjoying not only them, but also the fact that you have visited the highest observation deck (accessible to the public) in the European Union.
Fun fact: The Eiffel Tower is possibly the only structure in the world that has a proprietary color. It is called "Eiffel Brown" and gives the structure a bronze tint.
8. Louvre Museum - Paris, France
Let's not stray too far from the Eiffel Tower, because the 8th member of the collection of the most iconic buildings in the world is also located in Paris. In 2017, the Louvre was the most visited art museum in the world, with 8.1 million visitors to its halls. Largely due to the fact that they exhibit here the most famous paintings by Leonardo Da Vinci.
The museum is located inside the Parisian Louvre, an ancient structure that was originally conceived as a fortress. If you go to the basement of the museum, you can still see the remains of this period. As a museum, the Louvre first opened on August 10, 1793, with only 537 paintings on display back then. Since then, the collection has grown to 300,000 items, and the Louvre has become the world's largest art museum.
7. Tower Bridge - London, UK
Built between 1886 and 1894, this magnificent Victorian Gothic structure is an iconic London landmark.It is located near the Tower of London, and the two landmarks are sometimes confused with each other.
Tower Bridge crosses the Thames and is actually a combination of an elevator and a suspension bridge, with operating mechanisms at the base of each of the two towers.
Steering a bridge is a bit like stepping a ship. The famous bridge has not only a captain, but also a whole team of sailors who are on watch, and even beat off bottles like on a real ship.
6. Colosseum - Rome, Italy
This oval amphitheater, located in Rome, was built around 80 AD, and in its prime could accommodate between 50,000 and 80,000 spectators, according to various estimates.
The building has become a symbol of the inviolability of Rome. Although the Colosseum was partially destroyed mainly due to earthquakes, fires and the theft of stones, it still stands in the center of the city, recalling the times of pride and glory of the Roman Empire. Today it is one of the most famous structures on the planet.
5. Leaning Tower of Pisa - Pisa, Italy
This free-standing cathedral bell tower in the city of Pisa is one of the most amazing buildings in the world. The construction of the tower continued until 1372, and the famous slope began during construction work. This was caused by a soft foundation on one side of the structure.
The tilt gradually but steadily increased until the end of the 20th century, when efforts were made to stop it and partially correct the tilt of the tower. Of course, they didn’t fully straighten her, and why? After all, many tourists love to be photographed as if the tower falls right into their hands, or they help to hold it.
4. Taj Mahal - Agra, India
The huge mausoleum-mosque is one of the most famous and popular buildings in the world - and perhaps one of the most beautiful places on earth... It attracts eight million visitors every year.
Taj Mahal is a monument to the great love of the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan and his wife Mumtaz Mahal. They almost never parted, and Mumtaz often traveled with her husband, even to war. It was in one such campaign in 1631 that she died giving birth to their 14th child.
Construction of the 74-meter structure took 22 years. There is a legend that Shah Jahan planned to build another mausoleum of black marble opposite the Taj Mahal. But he did not have time, as there was a palace coup led by the son of the ruler - Aurangzeb.
3. Burj Khalifa - Dubai, UAE
Speaking of famous buildings, it is impossible to miss this 828-meter skyscraper heading list of tallest buildings in the world... It was built with a single purpose - to amaze the whole world, and to prove that in the construction of skyscrapers, the UAE is ahead of the rest.
2. Sydney Opera House, Australia
If you are planning a trip to Australia, be sure to visit one of the most characteristic and easily recognizable buildings on Earth. It is made in the style of expressionism, and the roof of the theater is covered with 1,056,006 white and matte cream azulejo ceramic tiles. From a distance, the structure looks snow-white, and thanks to the skillful lighting of the tiles, it acquires different colors.
The construction of this amazing building was completed in 1973, and it was personally opened by Her Majesty Elizabeth II.
Up to 3,000 events are held each year at the Sydney Opera House. His program also includes an opera dedicated to the theater itself. It is called The Eighth Wonder, which is a reference to the fact that in 2007 the building was among the finalists of the Seven New Wonders of the World competition.
1. St. Basil's Cathedral - Moscow, Russia
You may have seen this famous building, if not live, then in many popular films. St. Basil's Cathedral is a church on Red Square, one of the the most beautiful places in Moscow... The building was completed in 1561 and it became the tallest building in the city until the completion of the Ivan the Great Bell Tower in 1600.
The unique style of the temple combines the European architectural traditions of the Renaissance with the traditions of Russian architecture.There is even a legend that, impressed by the beauty and unique style of the temple, Ivan the Terrible ordered to blind the master architects so that they would never create something like that.