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Castles, Monasteries, Pyramids, Forts & Ruins! We live in a world where each country has an interesting tale of the past of how man evolved from cave dwellers to maharajas, of civilizations that are now extinct, of great loves, of warriors of old, of rites and rituals and more.
When you travel to India, you can visit palaces and forts that tell a tale of maharajas, princedoms and freedom struggles. If you head to South America, you will see the remains of the Aztec and Incas civilizations that are now extinct; in Egypt, the pharos and mummies; in Greece, the pantheon; and in Italy, the coliseum.
Each palace, pyramid and pantheon with their amazing architecture and detailed art represents the civilizations that shouldn't be forgotten. There are thousands of places across the world that are steeped in rich history and are awe-inspiring. Selecting a place to visit is not easy, so here are some must see historic destinations from across the world. Please keep in mind each country has numerous places of historic significance and this article just lists few.
Parthenon, Greece
Parthenon is one of the four greatest masterpieces of classical Greek art situated at the Acropolis in Greece. Built in the 5th century BC by the architects Ictinus and Callicrates under the supervision of the sculptor Phidias, this ancient temple is dedicated to the Goddess Athena. It is a rectangular shape structure that is generally considered to be the culmination of the development of the Doric order. It made of brilliant white marble, surrounded by 46 great columns, roofed with tiles, and housed a nearly 40 foot tall statue of the goddess Athena. The statue, known as Athena Promachos, Athena the Champion, was made of wood, gold and ivory and could be seen from a distance of many miles.
Today, the Parthenon is a testament of the civilizations, myths and religions that flourished for over 1, 000 years.
Pyramids of Giza, Egypt
The Pyramids of Giza are over 3,000 years old. There are 3 pyramids of varying sizes. The largest pyramid is known as the Great Pyramid was originally 146 meters (438 feet) high but time and weather has worn it down by 10 meters (30 feet). It is made up of approximately two million blocks of limestone with each weighing more than two tons, each of its sides are carefully positioned to point north, south, east, and west and the bottom of the pyramid has sides that measure 227 meters (681 feet) in length. Te Great Pyramid was built by the Pharaoh Khufu and once held his body.
The Second Pyramid belongs to the Pharaoh Khafre. It is 3 meters shorter then Khufu's and stands on the northern side of the Giza Plateau. The Third Pyramid (Menkaure) is the smallest of the three pyramids. It is not as detailed as the other two pyramids and stands 66 meters high.
The pyramids are a marvel of human engineering. They are aligned to the stars and the solstices and contain vast chambers that still haven't been opened.
Easter Island, Chile
Easter Island or the Isla de Pascua is located out in the Pacific Ocean and special territory of Chile. The island is surrounded by monumental statues, known as Moai statues, which were symbols of the spiritual and political power of Peruvian civilization. These gigantic and amazingly carved heads are the only thing left of culture that once lived here.
Taj Mahal, India
In the 1600s, Emperor Shah Jahan built the Taj Mahal in memory of his favorite wife, Mumtaz Mahal. This white marble tomb is located in Agra, India and is considered to be one of the finest examples of Mughal architecture, a style that combines elements from Persian, Turkish, Indian, and Islamic architectural styles.
Manchu Pirochu, Peru
Located in Southern Peru, Machu Picchu was a sacred place of Inca civilization. It is known as the "Lost City of the Incas." It lies on top of a mountain and is only accessible by train or 4-day trek.. The Machu Picchu ruins reveal a self contained city with temples, baths, houses etc. Many of these structures were carved from the mountain granite and are still in great form. One such structure is the Intihuatana stone, which was used as an astronomical observatory and is an extremely precise marker of dates and celestial periods.
Statue of Christ Redeemer, Brazil
Brazil's most recognizable landmark is the statue of Cristo Redentor (Christ the Redeemer). This statue is located at Rio de Janeiro and rises almost 130 feet from the ground.
Tikal, Guatemala
Tikal is a Mayan city-state located in northern Guatemala. It was one of the largest urban centres of the Maya civilization and today, is one of the best-preserved historical sites. The amazing and monumental architecture reflects the glory that the Maya kingdom had in the past.
Stonehenge, United Kingdom
The Stonehenge is located near Salisbury in England. The stones of this 3,000 plus year old megalithic structure come all the way from Wales.
Great Wall of China, China
The Great Wall of China also known as "long Wall of 10,000 Li" in China extends about 8,850 kilometers (5,500 miles). It is not a continuous wall but is a collection of short walls that often follow the crest of hills on the southern edge of the Mongolian plain.
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