In the world there are many wonderful sights and many buildings that are the "calling cards" of your city or entire 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 building remained the largest cathedral in the world for almost a thousand years. And it also found many graffiti inscriptions made by immigrants from Russia. Almost like "Kitty and Osia 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, every year millions of people become its guests.
The tower was named after Gustave Eiffel, an engineer who designed and built it from 1887 to 1889. Its height reaches 300 meters, which is comparable to the height of an 80-story building. Visitors have access to the three levels of the tower, two of which are restaurants. On the top floor (276 meters above the ground) there is a secret room and a platform from which you can view the surroundings of Paris, enjoying not only them, but also the fact that you visited the highest observation deck (accessible to the public) in the European Union.
Curious fact: the Eiffel Tower is perhaps the only building in the world that has a patented color. It is called “brown eiffel” and gives the design a bronze hue.
8. The Louvre Museum - Paris, France
Let's not go far from the Eiffel Tower, because the 8th participant in the selection 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, 8.1 million people visited its halls. Largely due to the fact that the most famous paintings by Leonardo Da Vinci are exhibited here.
The museum is located inside the Paris Louvre Museum, 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 was first opened on August 10, 1793, and then only 537 paintings were presented in it. Since then, the collection has grown to 300 thousand exhibits, and the Louvre has become the world's largest art museum.
7. Tower Bridge - London, UK
This magnificent Victorian Gothic building was built between 1886 and 1894 and is a symbolic symbol of London. It is located near the Tower of London, and these two landmarks are sometimes confused with each other.
The Tower Bridge crosses the Thames and is actually a combination of a lift and a suspension bridge, and working mechanisms are located at the base of each of the two towers.
Managing a bridge is somewhat similar to controlling a ship. The famous bridge has not only a captain, but also a whole team of sailors who are on guard duty, and even beat flasks, as on a real ship.
6. Colosseum - Rome, Italy
This oval amphitheater, located in Rome, was built around 80 AD, and in its best years could accommodate from 50,000 to 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 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 buildings on the planet.
5. Leaning Tower of Pisa - Pisa, Italy
This free-standing bell tower of the cathedral of Pisa is one of the most amazing buildings in the world. The construction of the tower lasted until 1372, and the famous slope began even during construction work. This was caused by a soft foundation on one side of the structure.
The slope slowly but steadily increased until the end of the 20th century, until efforts were made to stop it and partially correct the slope of the tower. Of course, they didn’t straighten her completely, and why? Indeed, many tourists love to be photographed as if the tower falls directly into their hands, or they help to hold it.
4. Taj Mahal - Agra, India
The huge mosque mausoleum 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.
The Taj Mahal is a monument to the great love of the Mughal emperor of the 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 during the birth of their 14th child.
The construction of the 74-meter structure took 22 years. There is a legend that Shah Jahan planned to build another mausoleum, made of black marble, opposite the Taj Mahal. But he didn’t have time, because a palace coup took place, at the head of which was the son of the ruler - Aurangzeb.
3. Burj Khalifa - Dubai, UAE
Speaking of famous buildings, it's impossible to miss this 828-meter high skyscraper topping the list of tallest buildings in the world. It was built for the sole purpose of hitting the whole world, and to prove that in the field of building skyscrapers the UAE is ahead of the rest.
2. Sydney Opera House, Australia
If you are planning a trip to Australia, then 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 by 1,056,006 white and matte cream azulejo ceramic tiles. From a distance, the design looks snow-white, and thanks to the skillful lighting of the tile, it acquires different colors.
The construction of this amazing building was completed in 1973, and Her Majesty Elizabeth II personally opened it.
Each year, the Sydney Opera House hosts up to 3,000 events. His program also includes an opera dedicated to the theater itself. It is called the Eighth Miracle, which is a reference to the fact that in 2007 the building became one of the finalists of the Seven New Wonders of the World contest.
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 most beautiful places in Moscow. The construction of the building was completed in 1561, and it became the tallest building in the city until the construction 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 Ivan the Terrible, impressed by the beauty and unique style of the temple, ordered the masters of architects to be blinded so that they would never create something like that.
