Did you know that the 7 Wonders of the Modern World , unveiled by the New7Wonders Foundation, were selected from 21 sites and architectural works from 21 different countries ? Want to know more? We invite you to discover all 21 wonders of the world initially in the running and where to go to admire them. So, read on!
The 7 wonders of the modern world are among the 21 wonders of the world in the running
Here are the seven grand prize winners, representing seven wonders of the world chosen from among the 21 wonders of the world in the running. These are the cream of the crop, according to the jury who voted them up!
1. Christ the Redeemer in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Christ the Redeemer is the statue of Christ, recognizable by its wide-open arms, that dominates the city of Rio de Janeiro in Brazil. This 38 m (124 ft) tall statue, erected on the heights of Corcovado Mountain, was designed by Brazilian engineer Heitor Da Silva Costa, and created by sculptors Paul Landowski and Gheorghe Leonida, in collaboration with French engineer Albert Caquot. Christ the Redeemer, inaugurated in 1931, is one of the most recent works of the 21 wonders of the world.
2. The Colosseum in Rome, Italy
A testament to the ingenuity of the scholars of Ancient Rome, the Colosseum in Rome, Italy, was not one of the 7 Wonders of the Ancient World. However, this work, commissioned by Emperor Vespasian in 72 AD and inaugurated by his son Titus about ten years later, was a true technological feat. It is, in fact, a monument approximately 50 meters in circumference that had 4 floors including an amphitheater that could accommodate 50,000 spectators. As a result, its ruins, which are located in the city of Rome in Italy, attracted more than 7.5 million visitors in 2018 alone.
3. Chichen Itza in Mexico
The pre-Columbian city of Chichén Itzá is located near the Rivera Maya on Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula. It is a priceless Mayan heritage site. It was an ancient city dating back to the 8th century, at the height of Mayan tradition. It houses an immense step pyramid: El Castillo, also known as the Pyramid of Kukulcán. This temple was also built in honor of Kukulkan, the Feathered Serpent god of Toltec origin.
4. The Taj Mahal in Agra, India
A testament to the love Mughal Emperor Shah Jaan had for his late wife Arjumand Banu Begam (also known as Mumtaz Mahal) , the Taj Mahal, whose name means “crown of the palace,” is a stunning white marble mausoleum. This jewel of Mughal architecture is located in Agra, on the banks of the Yamuna River in the state of Uttar Pradesh, India. Construction began in 1631, the year the queen died, and took about 17 years to complete.
5. The Great Wall of China
With its 6,500 kilometers of wall, connecting the Gobi Desert and the China Sea, the Great Wall is the largest architectural construction (in length, area, and mass) ever built by man. It is also said that this human-made structure can be seen from the moon. The Great Wall, which is actually a series of military fortifications to defend China’s northern border from invaders, was built, destroyed, and rebuilt in several places between the 3rd century BC and the 17th century AD. This wonder of the modern world attracts approximately 16 million tourists each year.
6. Petra in Jordan
The superb and fascinating Nabataean city of Petra is located in Jordan; it represents a masterpiece of human creative genius. Indeed, this site is home to numerous buildings, whose monumental facades were directly carved into the rock. It was a vintage city, which the Nabataeans magnified and made prosperous, thanks to trade, given that Petra was located on the spice route. Note, however, that the most beautiful buildings are funerary in nature, like the El Khazneh (meaning treasure) and its superb 40-meter-high facade.
7. Machu Picchu in Peru
Machu Picchu, whose name means “old mountain,” is listed among the 21 and then the 7 modern wonders of the world. And for that reason, it allows visitors to discover the remains of the Inca civilization and their stone building expertise. This ancient Inca city, an area of interest in the Andes Mountains of Peru, was a religious sanctuary, with numerous temples dedicated to the Sun God. It is believed that Machu Picchu also served as a residence for Emperor Pachacutec, who ordered its construction in the 15th century.
Seek the advice of with +
There’s a good chance you’ll be traveling to one of these wonders of the world by plane. And air travel sometimes means unforeseen circumstances, whether it’s a delay or, worse, a cancellation of your flight. In this case, you can definitely claim compensation for a canceled flight. Flightright specializes in this type of claim and can take the steps on your behalf (in exchange for a small percentage of the compensation) to obtain the compensation you’re entitled to (and if you don’t get it, you pay nothing!). We don’t want that to happen to you, but it’s very useful to keep this link on hand in case of a flight cancellation (or a necessary delay). This won’t ruin your trip, but you’ll lose less money.
21 Wonders of the World: Other Selected Websites
Finally, here are the 14 “losers.” However, these are obviously exceptional websites that deserve their place on this list of the 21 wonders of the world !
8. The Alhambra of Granada in Spain
A jewel of Islamic art during the Arab presence in Spain, the Alhambra deserves its place among the 21 New Wonders of the World. Indeed, it is a fortified complex that dominates the city of Granada, in Andalusia, Spain. It includes several buildings such as the Alcazaba, the Nasrid Palaces, the Generalife, its gardens, and the Palace of Charles V, the most majestic in the Mediterranean world. Note that the first building on this site was built in the 8th or 9th century, but the most prestigious buildings were built in the 14th century, at the height of the Nasrid dynasty.
9. Angkor in Cambodia
Located north of Siem Reap, about twenty kilometers from Tonle Sap, the Angkor Wat is a vast complex of ruins and hydraulic structures. It was the ancient capital of the Khmer Empire from the 9th to the 15th century, and has become Cambodia’s main tourist attraction, attracting more than a million visitors a year. There, you will discover a plethora of temples, religious buildings, and mausoleums, but the most prestigious is undoubtedly the Angkor Wat temple complex. Indeed, this temple, built by Suryavarman II in the early 12th century, is the best-preserved temple in the Angkor Wat; it is also the largest religious monument in the world and the only one to have been initially Hindu and then Buddhist.
10. The Moai of Easter Island in Chile
Emblems of Easter Island, the stone giants called moai have a mysterious air. They are giant sculptures of human figures, measuring from 2.5 to 9 meters, and were created by the matamua (“the first” in Maori), the island’s ancient inhabitants, between the 13th and 16th centuries. Standing on the Ahu, ceremonial stone platforms, their faces turned toward the ocean, the moai seem to scan the horizon. There are 900 moai on the island, but it is the Ahu Tongariki, with its 15 erected and restored statues, which is the largest Ahu on the island of Rapa Nui.
11. The Eiffel Tower in Paris, France
Nicknamed the Iron Lady, the Eiffel Tower, emblem of Paris, the capital of France, is included on the list of the 21 wonders of the world. Due to its majestic appeal, its curves and perfect symmetry make it an architectural feat of the 19th century. It was engineer Gustave Eiffel who designed this tower for the 1889 World’s Fair. It was supposed to be dismantled two years after the exhibition, but it was unexpectedly used again thanks to the invention of radio transmission. And ever since, the Iron Lady has served as a giant antenna. It is one of the most visited monuments in the world.
12. The Hagia Sophia in Istanbul, Turkey
The Hagia Sophia in Istanbul, Turkey, was originally a Christian basilica, then converted into a mosque and then a museum. This splendid building was built in the 4th century and rebuilt to its current form under the Byzantine Emperor Justinian in the 6th century. It was converted into a mosque in the 15th century under Mehmet II, but it was not until 1934 that the museum was established in the former Hagia Sophia. Regardless, this architectural splendor ranks among the world’s must-see monuments.
13. The temples of Kiyomizu-dera in Kyoto, Japan
Kiyomizu-dera, an 8th-century Japanese temple complex, exudes peace and serenity. It is a complex of Buddhist and Shinto temples, including a 3-story pagoda and other listed buildings such as the Jishu-jinja, the Nio-mon Gate , and the Otowa-san Kiyomizu-dera . But the main attraction of this site is the main building: the Otowa-san Kiyomizu-dera. It is famous for its platform supported by 139 giant pillars, nearly 15 m high. Another attraction of this site is the Otowa-no-taki waterfall , which is located within its walls. This site is located near Kyoto.
14. The Kremlin in Moscow, Russia
Located in the heart of Moscow, the capital of Russia, the Kremlin is an urban fortress, impressive both for its beauty and size. This citadel was the official residence of the Tsars, then of the Soviet government, before becoming the residence and workplace of the Russian Federation. The Kremlin, practically triangular in shape, includes 19 excursions of varying shapes and sizes.
In addition to palaces such as the Grand Kremlin Palace, the Armoury Hall, the Palace of Small Pleasures, the Tsarina’s Golden Palace, the Kremlin Arsenal, the State Kremlin Palace, and the Senate Palace, the Kremlin grounds are home to religious buildings, including the Cathedral of St. Michael the Archangel, the Cathedral of the Annunciation, the Church of the Deposition of the Virgin, the Verkhospasskai Cathedral, and the Dormition Cathedral. Other buildings include the Terem Palace and the Patriarch’s Palace.
15. Neuschwanstein Castle in Bavaria, Germany
Neuschwanstein Castle in Bavaria is undoubtedly the most famous castle in Germany. It was King Ludwig II of Bavaria who had this building constructed in the 19th century on a rocky outcrop, 970 meters above sea level. Neuschwanstein has 200 elements, decorated in a 13th-century Romanesque style. Often nicknamed “the castle of the fairy tale king,” this building inspired Walt Disney for the structure of “Sleeping Beauty Castle,” which has since become the brand of Walt Disney Studios.
16. The Statue of Liberty in New York, United States
” Liberty Enlightening the World ,” known as the “Statue of Liberty,” was donated by France to celebrate the 100 solutions of the United States Declaration of Independence and to mark the friendship between these two countries. This statue, located on Liberty Island in New York, is quite imposing, with its height of 46.05 m, but culminating at 93 m on its base. The beauty of this modern masterpiece, made of concrete and granite (base), steel and copper (cladding and construction of the statue) has earned it a place on the list of the 21 wonders of the modern world. With approximately 4 million visitors per year, the Statue of Liberty is one of the tourist attractions of New York City.
17. Stonehenge in Royal United Kingdom
Stonehenge, a megalithic monument located some 13 km north of Salisbury and 4 km west of Amesbury in England, is certainly the oldest human-made work of the 21 wonders of the world. Indeed, this group of concentric circular buildings dates back to between 2,800 and 1,100 years BC. As a result, it is attributed a mysterious character, especially since during sunset on the summer solstice and sunrise on the winter solstice, the sun aligns perfectly with this monument.
18. The Sydney Opera House in Australia
The Sydney Opera House, recognizable by its sailboat- or shell-shaped structure, is one of the most famous buildings of the 20th century. Its structure earned it a place on the list of finalists in the vote for the New 7 Wonders of the World. Indeed, this architectural masterpiece, inaugurated in 1973 after 16 years of construction, is a mecca of operatic arts. It hosts an average of 1,500 performances each year and attracts thousands of visitors.
19. The Acropolis of Athens in Greece
The Acropolis of Athens, overlooking the city of Athens, the capital of Greece, is one of the most famous sites in the world. And for starters, it is a collection of ancient buildings that represent the creative genius of man and bear undeniable testimony to ancient Greek tradition. This sanctuary, dedicated to the cult of Athena, the protective goddess of the city of Athens, includes several buildings and temples such as the Parthenon, the Erechtheion, the Temple of Athena Nike, the Propylaea, the Theater of Dionysus, and the Odeon of Herodes Atticus.
20. The city of Timbuktu in Mali
The Malian city of Timbuktu, nicknamed the “city of 333 saints” or “the pearl of the desert,” is a place steeped in history. Located about twelve kilometers from the Niger River in the Timbuktu region, this city is characterized by its adobe buildings, including the three famous mosques of Djingareyber, Sankoré, and Sidi Yahia, as well as 16 mausoleums of saints. As a result, it has always fascinated visitors. But the true treasure of what is also known as the “pearl of Africa” lies in its cultural richness: the 100,000 Timbuktu manuscripts preserved in its documentation and research center.
21. The Pyramid of Cheops in Egypt
The Pyramid of Khufu, located near Cairo in Egypt, is considered an “Honorary Wonder” because it is the only one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World to have survived and is still well preserved. This pyramid, the presumed tomb of Pharaoh Khufu, also known as the “Great Pyramid of Giza,” was built around 2,500 BC. It is also the largest of the Giza pyramids.
These 21 sites and monuments, Wonders of the Modern World , are all on the UNESCO World Heritage List . They are also some of the most visited sites in the world. So what are you waiting for? Pack your suitcase and set off to discover these wonders!