Taj Mahal, India

Built by Shah Jahan as a mausoleum after the death of his third and favorite wife, Mumtaz Mahal, the Taj Mahal is considered by many the most beautiful example of muslim architecture in the world. The dome and surrounding minarets viewed from the gardens have become the most photographed structure in India and are the country's most popular tourist attraction.

Construction of the Taj Mahal required 20,000 men and saw architects and craftsmen brought in from every part of the Islamic world. The tomb and dome are constructed of white marble, and the interior walls are inlaid with precious stones such as sapphire, turquoise, jade, lapis lazuli and many more. 

Roman Colosseum, Italy

Built by the Flavian dynasty and completed in 80AD, the colosseum was designed to hold 50,000 spectators of Roman gladiatorial contests and games. Despite hundreds of years of damage from earthquakes and theft of the marble coverings and stone blocks for building materials, the colosseum today is still as imposing an icon in the center of Rome as it was in Imperial times.

Having an area of over 6 acres, the colosseum originally measured 190 meters long and 155 meters wide, the walls stood 48 meters high, the arena itself measured 83 meters by 48 meters, just a little smaller than a modern football field.

In recent centuries the building has been protected by the Roman Catholic Church as a sacred site where early Christians had been martyred, and restorations efforts have negun aimed at protecting what remains of this magnificent structure.

Petra City, Jordan

Designated one of the most precious cultural properties of man's cultural heritage by UNESCO, Petra is an enigma giving up it's secrets slowly. Petra is famous for it's red stone buildings carved into the rock with the Treasury and the Monastery being the most well known.

Access to Petra is difficult, probably explaining its relative obscurity and preservation since it ceased to be actively inhabited in the 3rd century. To prevent further damage, camels and walking  are the only form of transport allowed in Petra.

It is believed Petra was founded in the 6th century BC and grew to become the capital of the Nabatene Kingdom, a loose association of oasis towns that managed to intensively cultivate the lands surrounding their wells.

Chichen Itza, Mexico

A center of Mayan civilization until about 1000AD, Chichen Itza, also known as Uucyabnal, is one of the most important ancient Mayan sites, and at it's height was a major regional capital of the Mayan Empire. 

The most recognizable symbol of Chichen Itza is El Castillo, the Temple of Kukulcan, a large stone pyramid with stone staircases on each side and crowned by the temple where it is said human sacrifices were carried out by the priests. The Temple of Kukulcan is a must see destination at the time of the Spring Equinox when the souther corner of the template is said to cast a shadow of the  Mayan serpent god slithering down the temple to the ground.

Other important structures within the city are the Temple of the Warriors, The Great Ball Court, the High Priest's Temple, Las Monjas, El Cracol, and Akab Dzib.

Machu Picchu, Peru

Often known as the Lost City of the Incas, Machu Picchu is believed to have been a secret retreat for Incan nobility, a place that was sacred, where the surrounding natural features of the mountain behind Machu Picchu reminded them of an Incan looking to the heavens.

Unique amongst Inca cities, Machu Picchu was spared destruction at the hands of the Spanish conquistadors by virtue of its remoteness and the secrecy surrounding its existence. Sadly the Inca empire was destroyed and Machu Picchu abandoned.

The city was built from 1460 onwards, and is situated above the Urubamba river at 2,350 meters above sea level. It contains over 300 houses, temples, and storage rooms. At its peak over 1,200 people inhabited Machu Picchu, mostly priests, women and children, along with a small unit of guards for protection.

Statue of Christ the Redeemer, Brazil

Completed in 1931, the statue of Christ the Redeemer stands 38 meters tall with an arm span of 28 meters. A statue on Corcovado Mountain had been talked about since the early 1850's but it was only in 1921 that serious efforts were made by the Catholic Church of Brazil to raise funds for the monument. 

Situated in Tijuca Forest National Park, Corcovado towers over Rio de Janeiro, and views from the lookout include Sugarloaf Mountain, Copacabana beach, Ipanema beach, and Rio de Janeiro.

Beneath the statue a chapel for 150 people has been built for Brazilians wanting to marry or be baptised. Nowadays, the statue is seen as a symbol of Brazil and of the open armed welcome visitors will receive by Brazilians.

Great Pyramid of Giza

The ancient Greeks believed there were seven wonders of the world. In the 21st century only one of those original wonders is still in existence,In 2001 a competition was held to decide on the modern world's interpretation of the world's seven wonders. Luckily there are many worthy replacements. Here then are the eight wonders of the world.

Great Wall, China

As the largest structure ever built by human civilization the Great Wall of China certainly is a wonder of the world. Over 6,400km long, construction started as early as the 5th century BC and continued until the 1600's when the Qing dynasty took control of China. 

Materials used to construct the wall varied over time, with original segments made of rammed earth and wood, but l 

 ater sections constructed from brick and cut rock. Later segments also exhibit the familiar watchtowers and barracks that were used to store weapons and house soldiers. 

Being constructed over a 2,000 year period, the wall was never a single permanent structure, and in fact maps show that the wall has actually occupied several locations in an effort to keep northern peoples from invading China.