User talk:Namita ghadi

Perhaps one of the greatest joys of traveling is drinking in the local culture. Its essence is all around: reflected in the food, the textiles, the dialects, and of course, the architecture. Each destination's local flair infuses itself into landmarks that have stood the test of time and serve to teach us about the past (and make for a great travel 'gram, too). It's been said that travel is the only thing you can buy that makes you richer, and we couldn't agree more.

Consider this lineup to be a travel bucket list of sorts. These buildings are renowned for various reasons—some for their architectural charm, others for their historical significance, and some for a healthy mix of both. A fair amount of them are iconic, of course: think Europe's museums, churches, and other landmarks whose replicas live on in souvenir shops and countless photos. Others on this list are more off the beaten path, but just as important in their own right. Here, AD rounds up architectural gems from around the world that you'll be glad you've seen when you look back on your travels.

1. Hagia Sophia — Istanbul, TurkeyItalic text Hagia Sophia (/ˈhɑːɡiə soʊˈfiːə/; from the Greek Αγία Σοφία, pronounced [aˈʝia soˈfia], "Holy Wisdom"; Latin: Sancta Sophia or Sancta Sapientia; Turkish: Ayasofya) is the former Greek Orthodox Christian patriarchal cathedral, later an Ottoman imperial mosque and now a museum (Ayasofya Müzesi) in Istanbul, Turkey. Built in AD 537 at the beginning of the Middle Ages, it was famous in particular for its massive dome. It was the world's largest building and an engineering marvel of its time. It is considered the epitome of Byzantine architecture[1] and is said to have "changed the history of architecture".[2]The Hagia Sophia construction consists of mostly masonry. The structure is composed of brick and mortar joints that are 1.5 times the width of the bricks. The mortar joints are composed of a combination of sand and minute ceramic pieces displaced very evenly throughout the mortar joints. This combination of sand and ceramic pieces could be considered to be the equivalent of modern concrete at the time.

2. The Guggenheim — New York City, USAItalic text he Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, often referred to as The Guggenheim, is an art museum located at 1071 Fifth Avenue on the corner of East 89th Street in the Upper East Side neighborhood of Manhattan, New York City. It is the permanent home of a continuously expanding collection of Impressionist, Post-Impressionist, early Modern and contemporary art and also features special exhibitions throughout the year. The museum was established by the Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation in 1939 as the Museum of Non-Objective Painting, under the guidance of its first director, the artist Hilla von Rebay. It adopted its current name after the death of its founder, Solomon R. Guggenheim, in 1952.In 1959, the museum moved from rented space to its current building, a landmark work of 20th-century architecture. Designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, the cylindrical building, wider at the top than the bottom, was conceived as a "temple of the spirit". Its unique ramp gallery extends up from ground level in a long, continuous spiral along the outer edges of the building to end just under the ceiling skylight.

3. Taj Mahal — Agra, IndiaItalic text The Taj Mahal (/ˌtɑːdʒ məˈhɑːl, ˌtɑːʒ-/;[4] Arabic: تاج محل‎, lit. 'Place or Position of the Crown', Hindi: ताज महल, lit. 'Crown of the Palaces' [taːdʒ ˈmɛːɦ(ə)l])[5] is an ivory-white marble mausoleum on the south bank of the Yamuna river in the Indian city of Agra. It was commissioned in 1632 by the Mughal emperor, Shah Jahan (reigned from 1628 to 1658), to house the tomb of his favourite wife, Mumtaz Mahal. It also houses the tomb of Shah Jahan, the builder. The tomb is the centrepiece of a 17-hectare (42-acre) complex, which includes a mosque and a guest house, and is set in formal gardens bounded on three sides by a crenellated wall.Construction of the mausoleum was essentially completed in 1643 but work continued on other phases of the project for another 10 years. The Taj Mahal complex is believed to have been completed in its entirety in 1653 at a cost estimated at the time to be around 32 million rupees, which in 2015 would be approximately 52.8 billion rupees (U.S. $827 million). The construction project employed some 20,000 artisans under the guidance of a board of architects led by the court architect to the emperor, Ustad Ahmad Lahauri. 4. Dancing House — Prague, Czech RepublicItalic text he Dancing House (Czech: Tančící dům), or Fred and Ginger, is the nickname given to the Nationale-Nederlanden building on the Rašínovo nábřeží (Rašín Embankment) in Prague, Czech Republic. It was designed by the Croatian-Czech architect Vlado Milunić in cooperation with Canadian-American architect Frank Gehry on a vacant riverfront plot. The building was designed in 1992 and completed in 1996.[1]The very non-traditional design was controversial at the time because the house stands out among the Baroque, Gothic and Art Nouveau buildings for which Prague is famous, and in the opinion of some it does not accord well with these architectural styles. The then Czech president, Václav Havel, who lived for decades next to the site, had avidly supported this project, hoping that the building would become a center of cultural activity.

5. Château de Chenonceau — Chenonceaux, FranceItalic text The Château de Chenonceau (French: [ʃɑto də ʃənɔ̃so]) is a French château spanning the River Cher, near the small village of Chenonceaux in the Indre-et-Loire département of the Loire Valley in France. It is one of the best-known châteaux of the Loire valley.[1]The estate of Chenonceau is first mentioned in writing in the 11th century.[2] The current château was built in 1514–1522 on the foundations of an old mill and was later extended to span the river. The bridge over the river was built (1556-1559) to designs by the French Renaissance architect Philibert de l'Orme, and the gallery on the bridge, built from 1570–1576 to designs by Jean Bullant.

6. ''Niterói Contemporary Art Museum — Niterói, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil'Italic text The Niterói Contemporary Art Museum (Museu de Arte Contemporânea de Niterói — MAC) is situated in the city of Niterói, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and is one of the city’s main landmarks. It was completed in 1996.Designed by Oscar Niemeyer with the assistance of structural engineer Bruno Contarini, who had worked with Niemeyer on earlier projects, the MAC-Niterói is 16 meters high; its cupola has a diameter of 50 meters with three floors. The museum projects itself over Boa Viagem (“Bon Voyage,” “Good Journey”) beach and also a neighborhood, the 817 square metres (8,790 sq ft) reflecting pool that surrounds the cylindrical base “like a flower,” in the words of Niemeyer. A wide access slope leads to a Hall of Expositions, which has a capacity for sixty people. Two doors lead to the viewing gallery, through which can be seen Guanabara Bay, Rio de Janeiro, and Sugarloaf Mountain. The saucer-shaped modernist structure, which has been likened to a UFO, is set on a cliffside, at the bottom of which is a beach. In the film Oscar Niemeyer, an architect committed to his century, Niemeyer is seen flying over Rio de Janeiro in a UFO which then lands on the site, suggesting this to be the origin of the museum.

7. The Pyramids of Giza — Giza, EgyptItalic text GIZA EGYPT NOVEMBER 13 The three large pyramids of Menkaure  Khafre  and Khufu loom over the horizon November 13 2004... GIZA, EGYPT - NOVEMBER 13: The three large pyramids of Menkaure (L), Khafre (C) and Khufu loom over the horizon November 13, 2004 at Giza, just outside Cairo, Egypt. The three large pyramids at Giza, built by King Khufu over a 30 year period around 2,550 B.C., are among Egypt's biggest tourist attractions. (Photo by Sean Gallup/Getty Images) Sean Gallup

8. Acropolis of Athens — Athens, GreeceItalic text ATHENS AUGUST 26  The temple of Parthenon is pictured lit up at night atop the ancient Acropolis of Athens on August 26... ATHENS - AUGUST 26: The temple of Parthenon is pictured lit up at night atop the ancient Acropolis of Athens on August 26, during the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, Greece. (Photo by Milos Bicanski/Getty Images) Milos Bicanski

9. CCentre Georges Pompidou — Paris, FranceItalic text The Centre Pompidou (French pronunciation: ​[sɑ̃tʁ pɔ̃pidu]), also known as the Pompidou Centre in English[citation needed], is a complex building in the Beaubourg area of the 4th arrondissement of Paris, near Les Halles, rue Montorgueil, and the Marais. It was designed in the style of high-tech architecture by the architectural team of Richard Rogers and Renzo Piano, along with Gianfranco Franchini.It houses the Bibliothèque publique d'information (Public Information Library), a vast public library; the Musée National d'Art Moderne, which is the largest museum for modern art in Europe; and IRCAM, a centre for music and acoustic research. Because of its location, the Centre is known locally as Beaubourg (IPA: [bobuʁ]).[1][2][3] It is named after Georges Pompidou, the President of France from 1969 to 1974 who commissioned the building, and was officially opened on 31 January 1977 by President Valéry Giscard d'Estaing. As of 2006, the Centre Pompidou has had over 180 million visitors since 1977[4] and more than 5,209,678 visitors in 2013,[5] including 3,746,899 for the museum

10. The Gateway Arch — St. Louis, Missouri, USAItalic text The Gateway Arch is a 630-foot (192 m) monument in St. Louis, Missouri, United States. Clad in stainless steel and built in the form of a weighted catenary arch,[5] it is the world's tallest arch,[4] the tallest man-made monument in the Western Hemisphere,[6] and Missouri's tallest accessible building. Built as a monument to the westward expansion of the United States,[5] and officially dedicated to "the American people," the Arch, commonly referred to as "The Gateway to the West" is the centerpiece of Gateway Arch National Park and has become an internationally recognized symbol of St. Louis, as well as a popular tourist destination.The Arch was designed by Finnish-American architect Eero Saarinen in 1947; construction began on February 12, 1963 and was completed on October 28, 1965[7][8] at an overall cost of $13 million[9] (equivalent to $80.6 million in 2018[2]). The monument opened to the public on June 10, 1967.[10] It is located at the site of St. Louis's founding on the west bank of the Mississippi River.[11][12][13]

11. Musée d'Orsay — Paris, FranceItalic text The Muse d'Orsay is seen from a boat on the river Seine on October 12 2016 in Paris. The city remains a top tourist... The Musée d'Orsay is seen from a boat on the river Seine on October 12, 2016, in Paris. The city remains a top tourist destination, but the number of foreign visitors has fallen due to terrorism fears throughout Europe.The Musée d'Orsay (French pronunciation: ​[myze dɔʁsɛ]) is a museum in Paris, France, on the Left Bank of the Seine. It is housed in the former Gare d'Orsay, a Beaux-Arts railway station built between 1898 and 1900. The museum holds mainly French art dating from 1848 to 1914, including paintings, sculptures, furniture, and photography. It houses the largest collection of impressionist and post-Impressionist masterpieces in the world, by painters including Monet, Manet, Degas, Renoir, Cézanne, Seurat, Sisley, Gauguin, and Van Gogh. Many of these works were held at the Galerie nationale du Jeu de Paume prior to the museum's opening in 1986. It is one of the largest art museums in Europe. Musée d'Orsay had 3.177 million visitors in 2017.[3]

12. The Gherkin — London, UKItalic text LONDON ENGLAND APRIL 08  'The Gherkin' or 30 St Mary Axe stands near Tower 42 the City of London's tallest occupied... LONDON, ENGLAND - APRIL 08: 'The Gherkin' or 30 St Mary Axe stands near Tower 42, the City of London's tallest occupied building on April 8, 2011 in London, England. The group, led by David Lindo who is known as 'The Urban Birder,' have observed several rare birds in the Capital from the top of the 600ft tower.30 St Mary Axe (known previously as the Swiss Re Building), informally known as The Gherkin, is a commercial skyscraper in London's primary financial district, the City of London. It was completed in December 2003 and opened in April 2004.[10] With 41 floors, it is 180 metres (591 ft) tall[3] and stands on the former sites of the Baltic Exchange and Chamber of Shipping, which were extensively damaged in 1992 in the Baltic Exchange bombing by a device placed by the Provisional IRA in St Mary Axe, a narrow street leading north from Leadenhall Street.[4][11]After plans to build the 92-storey Millennium Tower were dropped, 30 St Mary Axe was designed by Norman Foster and Arup Group.[12] It was erected by Skanska; construction started in 2001.[3]The building has become a recognisable landmark of London, and it is one of the city's most widely recognised examples of contemporary architecture.

13. Notre-Dame Cathedral — Paris, FranceItalic text Montage panoramique effectu partir de 15 photographies de taille 3008 x 2000.Appareil  Nikon D50Objectif  SIGMA 28200mm... Montage panoramique effectué à partir de 15 photographies de taille 3008 x 2000.Appareil : Nikon D50Objectif : SIGMA 28-200mm DG MACRORéglages :Vitesse : 1/800Ouverture : f/6.3Sensiilité : 200 ISOFocale : 55mm (équiv. 83mm)Balance des blancs : ensoleillement Jérôme BLUMNotre-Dame de Paris (/ˌnɒtrə ˈdɑːm, ˌnoʊtrə ˈdeɪm, ˌnoʊtrə ˈdɑːm/;[4][5][6] French: [nɔtʁə dam də paʁi] (About this soundlisten); meaning "Our Lady of Paris"), referred to simply as Notre-Dame,[a] is a medieval Catholic cathedral on the Île de la Cité in the 4th arrondissement of Paris. The cathedral is consecrated to the Virgin Mary and considered to be one of the finest examples of French Gothic architecture. Its pioneering use of the rib vault and flying buttress, its enormous and colourful rose windows, as well as the naturalism and abundance of its sculptural decoration set it apart from the earlier Romanesque style.[7] Major components that make Notre Dame stand out include one of the world's largest organs and its immense church bells 14. Mosque of Córdoba — Córdoba, SpainItalic text Spain Cordoba columns at the mosque  cathedral Mezquita (GERMANY OUT) Spain - Cordoba: columns at the mosque / cathedral Mezquita (Photo by Gerig/ullstein bild via Getty Images) ullstein bild.According to a traditional account, a small Visigoth church, the Catholic Basilica of Saint Vincent of Lérins, originally stood on the site.[10][11][12] In 784 Abd al-Rahman I ordered construction of the Great Mosque, which was considerably expanded by later Muslim rulers. Córdoba returned to Christian rule in 1236 during the Reconquista, and the building was converted to a Roman Catholic church, culminating in the insertion of a Renaissance cathedral nave in the 16th century.Since the early 2000s, Spanish Muslims have lobbied the Roman Catholic Church to allow them to pray in the cathedral.[15][16] This Muslim campaign has been rejected on multiple occasions, both by the church authorities in Spain and by the Vatican. 15. Westminster Abbey — London, UKItalic text Westminster Abbey, formally titled the Collegiate Church of Saint Peter at Westminster, is a large, mainly Gothic abbey church in the City of Westminster, London, England, just to the west of the Palace of Westminster. It is one of the United Kingdom's most notable religious buildings and the traditional place of coronation and burial site for English and, later, British monarchs. The building itself was a Benedictine monastic church until the monastery was dissolved in 1539. Between 1540 and 1556, the abbey had the status of a cathedral. Since 1560, the building is no longer an abbey or a cathedral, having instead the status of a Church of England "Royal Peculiar"—a church responsible directly to the sovereign.

According to a tradition first reported by Sulcard in about 1080, a church was founded at the site (then known as Thorn Ey (Thorn Island)) in the seventh century, at the time of Mellitus, a Bishop of London. Construction of the present church began in 1245, on the orders of King Henry III.[4] Archive Photos 16. Dresden Frauenkirche — Dresden, GermanyItalic text DRESDEN GERMANY FEBRUARY 10  The Frauenkirche church which was obliterated by the Allied firebombing of February 1314... DRESDEN, GERMANY - FEBRUARY 10: The Frauenkirche church, which was obliterated by the Allied firebombing of February 13-14, 1945 and rebuilt in 2005, stands at night in Neumarkt square on February 10, 2015 in Dresden, Germany. The city of Dresden will commemorate the 70th anniversary of the 1945 firebombing attack by British and American bombers that devastated the city and killed at least 25,000 people on February 13. (Photo by Sean Gallup/Getty Images) Sean Gallup 17. Château Frontenac — Québec, CanadaItalic text UNVERIFIED CONTENT The Chteau Frontenac in Quebec City Quebec Canada. It was designated a National Historic Site of... [UNVERIFIED CONTENT] The Ch?teau Frontenac in Quebec City, Quebec, Canada. It was designated a National Historic Site of Canada and one the famous landmark of Quebec City. Jayakumar Radhakrishnan#126191 18. The Colosseum — Rome, ItalyItalic text The ancient Roman Colosseum is illuminated to mark World AIDS Day 01 December 2007 in Rome. The World Health... The ancient Roman Colosseum is illuminated to mark World AIDS Day, 01 December 2007 in Rome. The World Health Organization who started World AIDS Day promotes awareness and focus on the global AIDS epidemic. AFP PHOTO / ALBERTO PIZZOLI (Photo credit should read ALBERTO PIZZOLI/AFP/Getty Images) ALBERTO PIZZOLI 19. One World Trade Center — New York City, USAItalic text NEW YORK NY NOVEMBER 12  One World Trade Center towers over lower Manhattan on November 12 2013 in New York City. The... NEW YORK, NY - NOVEMBER 12: One World Trade Center towers over lower Manhattan on November 12, 2013 in New York City. The building was deemed the tallest building in North America today; the title was previously held by Willis Tower in Chicago (previously titled Sears Tower). (Photo by Andrew Burton/Getty Images) Andrew Burton 20. The Lotus Temple — New Delhi, IndiaItalic text Temple lit up at dusk Lotus Temple New Delhi India. Temple lit up at dusk, Lotus Temple, New Delhi, India. (Photo by: Exotica.im/UIG via Getty Images) UniversalImagesGroup 21. St. Basil’s Cathedral — Moscow, RussiaItalic text MOSCOW RUSSIA AUGUST 06  A general view is seen of St Basil's Cathedral in Red Square ahead of the IAAF World... MOSCOW, RUSSIA - AUGUST 06: A general view is seen of St Basil's Cathedral in Red Square ahead of the IAAF World Championships on August 6, 2013 in Moscow, Russia. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images) Mark Kolbe 22. Dome of the Rock — Jerusalem, IsraelItalic text The Dome of the Rock on the Temple Mount in the Old City of Jerusalem Israel October 1980. The Dome of the Rock on the Temple Mount in the Old City of Jerusalem, Israel, October 1980. (Photo by Archive Photos/Getty Images) Archive Photos 23. Casa Milà — Barcelona, SpainItalic text UNVERIFIED CONTENT Casa Mil commonly known as La Pedrera is the largest civil building designed by Antoni Gaud. The... [UNVERIFIED CONTENT] Casa Mil?, commonly known as La Pedrera is the largest civil building designed by Antoni Gaud?. The apartment block was constructed between 1906 and 1910. It was Gaud?'s last work before devoting himself to the construction of the Sagrada Fam?lia. It is located on Passeig de Gr?cia in the Eixample district of Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain. Michelle McMahon#86026 24. The White House — Washington, D.C., USAItalic text WASHINGTON MAY 31  The exterior view of the south side of the White House is seen May 31 2005 in Washington DC. Vanity... WASHINGTON - MAY 31: The exterior view of the south side of the White House is seen May 31, 2005 in Washington, DC. Vanity Fair Magazine reported that former FBI official W. Mark Felt claimed himself was ?Deep Throat,? the anonymous source who provided information to Washington Post reporter Bob Woodward?s famous Watergate investigation report that led to the former President Richard Nixon's resignation. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images) Alex Wong 25. Forbidden City — Beijing, ChinaItalic text The Forbidden City (Chinese: 故宫; pinyin: Gùgōng) is a palace complex in central Beijing, China. It houses the Palace Museum, and was the former Chinese imperial palace from the Ming dynasty to the end of the Qing dynasty (the years 1420 to 1912). The Forbidden City served as the home of emperors and their households as well as the ceremonial and political center of Chinese government for almost 500 years. Constructed from 1406 to 1420, the complex consists of 980 buildings[3] and covers 72 hectares (over 180 acres).[4][5] The palace exemplifies traditional Chinese palatial architecture,[6] and has influenced cultural and architectural developments in East Asia and elsewhere. The Forbidden City was declared a World Heritage Site in 1987,[6] and is listed by UNESCO as the largest collection of preserved ancient wooden structures in the world.Since 1925, the Forbidden City has been under the charge of the Palace Museum, whose extensive collection of artwork and artifacts were built upon the imperial collections of the Ming and Qing dynasties. Part of the museum's former collection is now in the National Palace Museum in Taipei. Both museums descend from the same institution, but were split after the Chinese Civil War. Since 2012, the Forbidden City has seen an average of 15 million visitors annually, and received more than 16 million visitors in 2016[7] 26. Sagrada Familía — Barcelona, SpainItalic text The Temple Expiatori de la Sagrada Família (Catalan: [ˈtemplə əkspjəˈtoɾi ðə la səˈɣɾaðə fəˈmiljə]; Spanish: Templo Expiatorio de la Sagrada Familia; "Expiatory Church of the Holy Family")[5] is a large unfinished Roman Catholic church in Barcelona. Designed by Catalan architect Antoni Gaudí (1852–1926), his work on the building is part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site.[6] In November 2010, Pope Benedict XVI consecrated the church and proclaimed it a minor basilica.[7][8][9]In 1882, construction of Sagrada Família began under architect Francisco de Paula del Villar. In 1883, when Villar resigned,[6] Gaudí took over as chief architect, transforming the project with his architectural and engineering style, combining Gothic and curvilinear Art Nouveau forms. Gaudí devoted the remainder of his life to the project, and he is buried in the crypt. At the time of his death in 1926, less than a quarter of the project was complete.[10]Relying solely on private donations, Sagrada Familia's construction progressed slowly and was interrupted by the Spanish Civil War. In July 1936, revolutionaries set fire to the crypt and broke their way into the workshop, partially destroying Gaudí's original plans, drawings and plaster models, which led to 16 years work to piece together the fragments of the master model. 27. Lincoln Center — New York City, USAItalic text A consortium of civic leaders and others led by, and under the initiative of, John D. Rockefeller III built Lincoln Center as part of the "Lincoln Square Renewal Project" during Robert Moses' program of urban renewal in the 1950s and 1960s.[1] Respected architects were contracted to design the major buildings on the site, and over the next thirty years the previously diverse working class area around Lincoln Center was replaced with a conglomeration of high culture to please the tastes of the consortium.[2]Rockefeller was Lincoln Center's inaugural president from 1956 and became its chairman in 1961. He is credited with raising more than half of the $184.5 million in private funds needed to build the complex, including drawing on his own funds; the Rockefeller Brothers Fund also contributed to the project.[1] The center's three buildings, David Geffen Hall (formerly Avery Fisher Hall, originally named Philharmonic Hall), David H. Koch Theater (formerly the New York State Theater) and the Metropolitan Opera House were opened in 1962, 1964 and 1966, respectively. Rob Mintzes 28. The Shard — London, UKItalic text LONDON ENGLAND JUNE 28  An aerial view of the Shard on June 28 2012 in London England. Standing at 309.6 metres high... LONDON, ENGLAND - JUNE 28: An aerial view of the Shard on June 28, 2012 in London, England. Standing at 309.6 metres high the Shard is the tallest buliding in Europe and was designed by architect Renzo Piano. (Photo by Greg Fonne/Getty Images) Greg Fonne 29. Le Mont-Saint-Michel — Normandy, FranceItalic text The tidal island of Mont SaintMichel on the Normandy coast at sunrise taken on October 15 2011. The tidal island of Mont Saint-Michel on the Normandy coast at sunrise, taken on October 15, 2011. (Photo by Jeff Morgan/PhotoPlus Magazine via Getty Images) PhotoPlus Magazine 30. Bran Castle — Bran, RomaniaItalic text BRASOV ROMANIA JUNE 23 2005  Bran Castle is being offered for sale to the Brasov County Council by the U.S.based owner... BRASOV, ROMANIA - JUNE 23, 2005: Bran Castle is being offered for sale to the Brasov County Council by the U.S.-based owner, Dominic von Habsburg who is a descendant of the Romanian royal family June 23, 2005 in Brasov, Romania. The castle built by the Teutonic knights in 1212 was used briefly by Romanian ruler Vlad the Impaler who was partly the inspiration for Bram Stoker's novel Dracula. Passed through royal hands for many generations the castle was the principal home of Queen Marie whose grandson Dominic von Habsburg had the castle returned only in May of 2006 by the Romanian governmen. In preparation for Romania joining to the European Union the government has been handing back assets seized during communist rule. The castle is reported to be worth $25-million (USD) (Photo by Wojtek Laski/Getty Images) Laski Diffusion - Wojtek Laski 31. Angkor Wat — Siem Reap, CambodiaItalic text Siem Reap CAMBODIA An aerial view of the Angkor Wat temple in Siem Reap province some 314 kilometers northwest of Phnom... Siem Reap, CAMBODIA: An aerial view of the Angkor Wat temple in Siem Reap province some 314 kilometers northwest of Phnom Penh, 02 March 2007. Angkor is at the very heart of Cambodia's identity, and with nearly two million tourists coming to the country in 2006 -- more than half of those visiting Angkor -- it is recognising the need to keep these precious ruins intact. Some 500 years after a failing irrigation system forced Angkor's rulers to abandon the sprawling Khmer capital, a lack of water is again threatening Cambodia's most famous temple complex. AFP PHOTO/ TANG CHHIN SOTHY (Photo credit should read TANG CHHIN SOTHY/AFP/Getty Images) TANG CHHIN SOTHY 32. Sultan Ahmed Mosque — Istanbul, Turkey TOPSHOT A bird flies over the Blue Mosque after a blast in Istanbul's tourist hub of Sultanahmet on January 12 2016. At... TOPSHOT - A bird flies over the Blue Mosque after a blast in Istanbul's tourist hub of Sultanahmet on January 12, 2016. At least 10 people were killed and 15 wounded in a suspected terrorist attack in the main tourist hub of Turkey's largest city Istanbul, officials said. A powerful blast rocked the Sultanahmet neighbourhood which is home to Istanbul's biggest concentration of monuments and and is visited by tens of thousands of tourists every day. / AFP / BULENT KILIC (Photo credit should read BULENT KILIC/AFP/Getty Images) BULENT KILIC 33. Konark Sun Tower — Konark, IndiaItalic text Tourists visits the Konark Sun temple in Konark in eastern Orissa state on December 12 2014. The Konark Sun Temple is a... Tourists visits the Konark Sun temple in Konark, in eastern Orissa state on December 12, 2014. The Konark Sun Temple is a 13th-century Sun Temple built by King Narasimhadeva I of the Eastern Ganga Dynasty around 1250. The temple, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, has been built in the shape of a gigantic chariot with elaborately carved stone wheels, pillars and walls and a major part of the structure is now in ruins. AFP PHOTO/ Prakash SINGH (Photo credit should read PRAKASH SINGH/AFP/Getty Images) PRAKASH SINGH 34. Chrysler Building — New York City, USAItalic text NEW YORK MAY 27  The Chrysler Building is seen from the roof of the Met Life building as the press were given a tour to... NEW YORK - MAY 27: The Chrysler Building is seen from the roof of the Met Life building as the press were given a tour to mark the 75th Anniversary of the New York Landmark May 27, 2005 in New York City. The Art Deco building is now owned by Tishman Speyer Properties and was opened on May 27, 1930. (Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images) Mario Tama 35. Sacré-Cœur — Paris, FranceItalic text SacreCur building in paris with steps leading up to it Photo: Getty Images/Fox Photos/L. V. Clark 36. Potala Palace — Lhasa, Tibet, China LHASA CHINA  MARCH 20  A view of the Potala Palace on March 20 2009 in Lhasa Tibet Autonomous Region. LHASA - CHINA - MARCH 20: (CHINA OUT) A view of the Potala Palace on March 20, 2009 in Lhasa, Tibet Autonomous Region. (Photo by Yin Shichang/VCG via Getty Images) VCG 37. Musée du Louvre — Paris, FranceItalic text PARIS AUGUST 24  The Pyramide of the Louvre museum designed by I.M. Pei is seen on August 24 2005 in Paris France. Dan... PARIS - AUGUST 24: The Pyramide of the Louvre museum designed by I.M. Pei is seen on August 24, 2005 in Paris, France. Dan Brown is the author of numerous bestsellers, including Digital Fortress, Angels and Demons, and Deception Point. His acclaimed novel "The Da Vinci Code"has become one of the most widely read books of all time. (Photo by Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images) Pascal Le Segretain 38. Sydney Opera House — Sydney, AustraliaItalic text SYDNEY AUSTRALIA JULY 18  The Cross is transported to the Opera House by boat along Sydney Harbour with thousands of... SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - JULY 18: The Cross is transported to the Opera House by boat along Sydney Harbour with thousands of fans gathering along the shores to catch a glimpse. Actors including Alfio Stuto (Jesus) and Marina Dixon (Mary) re-enact scenes including Jesus before Pilate, Jesus being scourged and crowned with thorns and Jesus taking up His cross at Location 4 of 'Stations of the Cross', a travelling dramatised re-enactment of the last days of Jesus' life acted across seven CBD locations, at Sydney Opera House on July 18, 2008 in Sydney, Australia. Organised every two to three years by the Catholic Church, World Youth Day (WYD) is an invitation from the Pope to the youth of the world to celebrate their faith. The celebration, being held in Sydney from July 15 to July 20, 2008, will mark the first visit of His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI to Australia. (Photo by Gaye Gerard/Getty Images) Gaye Gerard 39. Guggenheim Museum, Bilbao — Bilbao, SpainItalic text SPAIN SEPTEMBER 22 Frank Gehry's Guggenheim Museum The Spider sculpture Iberdrola Tower and River Nervion at Bilbao Spain SPAIN - SEPTEMBER 22: Frank Gehry's Guggenheim Museum, The Spider sculpture, Iberdrola Tower and River Nervion at Bilbao, Spain (Photo by Tim Graham/Getty Images) Tim Graham 40. Fallingwater — Mill Run, Pennsylvania, USAItalic text Exterior of Fallingwater by Frank Lloyd Wright Exterior of Fallingwater by Frank Lloyd Wright (Photo by © Richard A. Cooke/CORBIS/Corbis via Getty Images) Richard A. Cooke III 41. The Pantheon — Rome, ItalyItalic text Exterior view of the Pantheon Rome. Originally built in the reign of Augustus rebuilt under Hadrian. Dedicated to all... Exterior view of the Pantheon, Rome. Originally built in the reign of Augustus, rebuilt under Hadrian. Dedicated to all the gods, this temple has a soaring dome which rises to a height of 142 feet. Country of Origin: Italy. Culture: Roman. Credit Line:. (Photo by Werner Forman Archive/Heritage Images/Getty Images) Heritage Images 42. Space Needle — Seattle, Washington, USAItalic text SEATTLE MAY 5  A general view of the Space Needle in Seattle Wahington during the MLB game between Blue Jays and the... SEATTLE - MAY 5: A general view of the Space Needle in Seattle, Wahington during the MLB game between Blue Jays and the Mariners at Safeco Field on May 5, 2001. (Photo by Otto Greule Jr /Getty Images) Otto Greule Jr 43. Villa Savoye — Poissy, FranceItalic text Villa Savoye (French pronunciation: ​[sa.vwa]) is a modernist villa in Poissy, on the outskirts of Paris, France. It was designed by the Swiss architects Le Corbusier and his cousin, Pierre Jeanneret and built between 1928 and 1931 using reinforced concrete.[3][4]As an exemplar of Le Corbusier's "five points" for new constructions, the villa is representative of the origins of modern architecture and is one of the most easily recognizable and renowned examples of the International style.The house was originally built as a country retreat for the Savoye family. After being purchased by the neighbouring school, it became the property of the French state in 1958. After surviving several proposals to demolish it, it was designated as an official French historical monument in 1965 (a rare event, as Le Corbusier was still living at the time). It was thoroughly renovated between 1985 and 1997, and the refurbished house is now open to visitors year-round under the care of the Centre des monuments nationaux.[5][6] 44. Houses of Parliament — London, UKItalic text LONDON OCTOBER 13 View of Big Ben Westminster Palace and Westminster Bridge across the River Thames from the Millennium... LONDON - OCTOBER 13: View of Big Ben, Westminster Palace and Westminster Bridge across the River Thames from the Millennium Bridge on October 13, 2016 in London, Great Britain, United Kingdom. (Photo by Waring Abbott/Getty Images) Waring Abbott 45. Burj Khalifa — Dubai, UAEItalic text DUBAI UAE SEPTEMBER 23 EXCLUSIVE Aerial image of the Burj Dubai taken on 23rd September 2009. The Burj Dubai is... DUBAI, UAE - SEPTEMBER 23: EXCLUSIVE Aerial image of the Burj Dubai taken on 23rd September 2009. The Burj Dubai is currently 818m tall and 162 floors. Towering above the Dubai skyline, the world's tallest man-made construction edges closer to completion. Consisting of 162 floors and two below ground, The Burj Dubai building has cost an estimated US$1 billion. With construction work beginning in September 2004, the official opening of the building has yet to be confirmed though it is expected in the coming months. Including the first Armani Hotel to open, the tower will include 800 private apartments and an observatory 442 metres above the ground on the 124th floor - the highest publicly observation desk in the world. Estimated to exceed 700 m the official height of the tower is yet to be confirmed however the tip of the spire can be seen from 60 miles away. In addition to the tower itself, the Downtown Burj Dubai development, which includes The Dubai Mall - the world largest shopping mall and the Burj Dubai Lake Hotel will cost a reported US$20 million to build. (Photo by Chopper Shoot LLC / Barcroft Media / Getty Images) Barcroft 46. Leaning Tower of Pisa — Pisa, ItalyItalic text The Leaning Tower of Pisa (Italian: Torre pendente di Pisa) or simply the Tower of Pisa (Torre di Pisa [ˈtorre di ˈpiːsa; ˈpiːza]) is the campanile, or freestanding bell tower, of the cathedral of the Italian city of Pisa, known worldwide for its nearly four-degree lean, the result of an unstable foundation. The tower is situated behind the Pisa Cathedral and is the third-oldest structure in the city's Cathedral Square (Piazza del Duomo), after the cathedral and the Pisa Baptistry.The tower's tilt began during construction in the 12th century, due to soft ground on one side, which was unable to properly support the structure's weight. The tilt increased in the decades before the structure was completed in the 14th century. It gradually increased until the structure was stabilized (and the tilt partially corrected) by efforts in the late 20th and early 21st centuries.The height of the tower is 55.86 metres (183.27 feet) from the ground on the low side and 56.67 metres (185.93 feet) on the high side. The width of the walls at the base is 2.44 m (8 ft 0.06 in). Its weight is estimated at 14,500 metric tons (16,000 short tons).[1] The tower has 296 or 294 steps; the seventh floor has two fewer steps on the north-facing staircase. In 1990 the tower leaned at an angle of 5.5 degrees,[2][3][4] but following remedial work between 1993 and 2001 this was reduced to 3.97 degrees,[5] reducing the overhang by 45 cm at a cost of £200m.[6] It lost a further 4 cm of tilt in the two decades to 2018 47. São Paulo Museum of Art — São Paulo, BrazilItalic text he São Paulo Museum of Art (Portuguese: Museu de Arte de São Paulo, or MASP) is an art museum located on Paulista Avenue in the city of São Paulo, Brazil.[2][3] It is well known for its headquarters, a 1968 concrete and glass structure designed by Lina Bo Bardi, whose main body is supported by two lateral beams over a 74 metres (243 ft) freestanding space, considered a landmark of the city and a main symbol of modern Brazilian architecture.[4]The museum is a private non-profit institution founded in 1947 by Assis Chateaubriand and Pietro Maria Bardi. MASP distinguished itself for many important initiatives concerning museology and art education in Brazil, as well as for its pioneering role as a cultural center.[5] It was also the first Brazilian museum interested in Post-World War II art.The museum is internationally recognized for its collection of European art, considered the finest in Latin America and all Southern Hemisphere.[4][6] It also houses an emphatic assemblage of Brazilian art, prints and drawings, as well as smaller collections of African and Asian art, antiquities, decorative arts, and others, amounting to more than 8,000 pieces. MASP also has one of the largest art libraries in the country. The entire collection has been named by Brazil's Institute of History and Art to the Brazilian National Heritage list.[7] 48. The Flatiron Building — New York City, USAItalic text The Flatiron Building, originally the Fuller Building,[A] is a triangular 22-story,[5] 285-foot (86.9 m) tall steel-framed landmarked building located at 175 Fifth Avenue in the Flatiron District neighborhood of borough of Manhattan, New York City. Upon completion in 1902, it was one of the tallest buildings in the city at 20 floors high[6] and one of only two "skyscrapers" north of 14th Street – the other being the Metropolitan Life Insurance Company Tower, one block east. The building sits on a triangular block formed by Fifth Avenue, Broadway, and East 22nd Street – where the building's 87-foot (27 m) back end is located – with East 23rd Street grazing the triangle's northern (uptown) peak. As with numerous other wedge-shaped buildings, the name "Flatiron" derives from its resemblance to a cast-iron clothes iron. 49. The Sistine Chapel — Vatican CityItalic text VATICAN CITY VATICAN JANUARY 13 A general view as Pope Benedict XVI celebrates baptisms in the Michelangelo's  Sistine... VATICAN CITY, VATICAN - JANUARY 13: A general view as Pope Benedict XVI celebrates baptisms in the Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel, January 13, 2008 in Vatican City. (Photo by Franco Origlia/Getty Images) Franco Origlia 50. Eiffel Tower — Paris, FranceItalic text PARIS FRANCE MARCH 31  The Eiffel Tower is seen before the lights are switched off for Earth Hour 2012 on March 31 2012... PARIS, FRANCE - MARCH 31: The Eiffel Tower is seen before the lights are switched off for Earth Hour 2012, on March 31, 2012 in Paris, France. According to organisers the biggest ever Earth Hour has participants including individuals, companies and landmarks in 147 countries and over 5,000 cities, agreeing to switch off their lights for one hour at 8:30pm. The Brandenburg Gate in Berlin, the Eiffel Tower in Paris, Big Ben Clock Tower in London, the Christ the Redeemer statue in Rio de Janeiro and the Empire State Building in New York are among the monuments whose operators have agreed to participate in the demonstration.