Information about the sights of the countries. Overview of the most famous landmarks in the world

Planet Earth abounds in places that are mesmerizing with their beauty. Millions of tourists from all over the world go to them every year, who return from there with a bunch of photos, videos and, most importantly, memories. Over the years, only the brightest moments remain, and queues to the sights, broken legs and other inconveniences are erased from memory. However, beauty is not the only attraction for travelers, as evidenced by the list below of the most visited sites on the planet.

1. Grand Bazaar (Istanbul, Turkey)

The Grand Bazaar appeared in Constantinople in the 15th century and is considered one of the world's first shopping arcades. An incredible number of visitors pass through it every year - more than 91 million! There are 66 streets on its territory, and there are more than 4 thousand shops on them, the bazaar has become a separate microdistrict of the city.

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2. Times Square (New York, USA)

This square is the main commercial district of New York's Midtown. In terms of attendance, reaching 50 million people a year, this area is difficult to compete with any other attraction in the world. Times Square, which burns with bright lights and billboards, is often referred to by Americans as "the crossroads of the world."

3. Grand Central (New York, USA)

Grand Central Terminal is located at the intersection of Park Avenue and 42nd Street within mid-Manhattan. This is the world's largest railway terminal - there are 44 platforms and 67 tracks converge here. In addition, this is the oldest train station in New York. Surprisingly, it also became a city landmark, for example, in 2013, about 22 million people decided to look at it. Every day about 750 thousand people come here, while only every third of them is a passenger.

4. Amusement Park "Magic Kingdom" (Orlando, Florida, USA)

Walt Disney World Recreation Center is divided into 4 theme parks, one of which - "Magic Kingdom" is located in Bay Lake, Florida. It is dedicated to the characters of Disney fairy tales. In 2015, it was visited by 20.49 million people - it is no coincidence that it has been recognized as the world's most visited theme park for the 10th time in a row, and in North America it has held the palm for 15 years.

5. Forbidden City (Beijing, PRC)

Chinese imperial palace, called the "Forbidden City", is located in the heart of Beijing. Emperors lived in it, starting with the Ming dynasty, solemn ceremonies were held here, the most important political issues were resolved for five centuries. There are about 980 different buildings on the territory of the Forbidden City, and the palace complex has now been turned into a museum. More than 14 million foreign and local tourists come here every year, making the Forbidden City the most visited museum in the world.

6. Park "Tokyo Disney Sea" (Urayasu, Japan)

Disneyland Japan is located near Tokyo. This amusement park has a nautical theme. It is spread over more than 71 hectares of land. Since the opening of Tokyo Disney Sea in 2001, it has managed to achieve 10 million attendance faster than other theme parks - the anniversary visitor came here just 307 days after the park's grand opening. Now this park continues to be visited annually by at least 14 million guests.

7. Basilica of the Holy Virgin of Guadalupe (Mexico City, Mexico)

Mexicans consider their common sacred mother Blessed virgin Maria of Guadalupe - the patroness and heavenly patroness of the country. On the northern outskirts of Mexico City, a basilica was built in her honor. It is believed that at this place five centuries ago she appeared to the Indian Juan Diego, who brought her words to the rest of the people. Thanks to this miracle, the ancient Indians were able to reconcile with the Christianity imposed by the Spaniards. The miraculous (according to the Catholic Church) image of the Virgin Mary is kept in the building of the basilica, rebuilt in 1976, as the most revered shrine by the Mexicans. This basilica, which has become the shrine of the Catholic New World, is visited by over 12 million people annually. It is especially crowded here on December 12 - the day of the veneration of the Virgin Mary of Guadalupe.

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8. Great Wall of China (PRC)

Once the Great Wall of China protected the empire from the raids of northern tribes, so it stretched for several thousand kilometers along northern border country. In fact, these are several separate chains of walls, the sum of the lengths of which exceeds 21 thousand kilometers. A piece of the wall, specially restored for tourists, is visited annually by up to 11 million people.

9. Golden Gate Bridge (San Francisco, USA)

This beautiful red bridge has long been a symbol of San Francisco. It is thrown across the bay of the same name and connects San Francisco with Marin County. This is one of the most photogenic bridges in the world. Its length is 2737 meters. More than 10 million tourists come to take pictures with the bridge in the background every year.

10. Louvre (Paris, France)

When the Louvre was built in the distant XII century, it was intended as a fortress, and only later did it become a royal palace. When the French overthrew the monarchy and established a republic, the Louvre became one of the world's largest museums. Today it is one of the main Parisian landmarks and the first most visited museum in Europe (10 million people annually). For example, in 2014, 9.26 million people came to admire its exposition. More than 380 thousand artifacts are stored in the Louvre, although only 35 thousand of them are available for viewing in the halls. The curious visitor can get acquainted in the Louvre with the history of the development of human civilization from the earliest prehistoric times to the present day. The area of ​​all expositions of the Louvre is about 16 hectares (this is the third largest museum in the world), therefore, in order to even superficially get acquainted with the countless masterpieces made not only in Europe, but also in Africa, the Middle East and other parts of the planet, there is not enough and several days.

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11. Sydney Opera House (Australia)

Over 8 million people yearn to visit this performing arts center located in Sydney, Australia. But paid tours of the building are made only by about 350 thousand guests. The theater building was built in 1973, and when it firmly became a tourist attraction, UNESCO inscribed it on its World Heritage List in 2007.

12. Ocean Park (Hong Kong, PRC)

In 1977, an ocean park was opened in Hong Kong, in which marine mammals settled, there is also a marine animal theme park, an oceanarium, and an amusement park. All this is located in the South District of Hong Kong on 88 hectares. Here you can see extremely pretty Chinese pandas, and for the entertainment of not only children, but also adults, 35 attractions have been built here. In addition, the park hosts celebrations and colorful shows. Every year, about 8 million visitors come here, in terms of attendance, this is one of the most popular Asian theme parks.

13. Parthenon (Athens, Greece)

The Greek Parthenon is one of the most famous ancient architectural monuments... The ruins of this temple, standing on the Acropolis hill, rise above Athens. It was built between 447 and 432 BC. The Parthenon has been a popular Greek and European landmark for many decades. And this despite the fact that not so much remains of it to this day - most of the pediments were destroyed, three dozen statues were preserved in a deplorable state. It is even difficult to imagine how this temple looked in all its splendor, since its descriptions have hardly survived. As far as possible, the fragments of the stones were put into place, the original statues went to museums, giving way to copies. The Greek government is making vigorous efforts to return to their homeland the fragments of the temple, barbarously taken away by stronger countries. The Parthenon is considered a symbol Ancient Greece, the cradle of democracy and Western civilization, so about 8 million people want to see it every year.

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14. Taj Mahal (Agra, India)

One of the new wonders of the world, the magnificent marble mausoleum of the Taj Mahal was built in Agra between 1632-1653. This complex is the best that the Mughals have built and has become a part of Indian history itself. Every year, about 8 million tourists from all over the world come to see its splendor.

15. Prague Castle (Prague, Czech Republic)

Prague Castle, covering an area of ​​about 70 thousand square meters. m, got into the Guinness Book of Records as the largest fortress in the world. Tickets to sightseeing tour it is annually acquired by almost 2 million people, and more than 7.4 million tourists simply walk on its territory. Prague Castle appeared in the distant 9th century, and now it houses the residence of the Czech president.

16. Basilica of St. Peter (Vatican)

The Basilica of Saint Peter was built during the heyday of the Renaissance - this is the main building of the Vatican - independent state in the center of Rome. St. Peter's Basilica is a magnificent example architectural style Renaissance and one of the most large temples the world. Since there is also the residence of the head of the Catholic Church, the Pope, 7 million people visit the basilica every year, most of whom are Catholic parishioners.

17. Eiffel Tower (Paris, France)

When it comes to Paris, most people often think of the Eiffel Tower first. The French engineer Gustave Eiffel built it in 1899. Neither he himself nor any of the French could have imagined that this building, erected only for the World Trade Exhibition, would be so popular that it would become one of the main symbols of Paris and all of France. For 40 years, this openwork steel structure, with a height of 324 meters, was the highest man-made structure on the planet until it was overtaken by skyscrapers, which like mushrooms began to grow in different parts of the Earth. To get to its observation deck, you need to climb 1,665 steps, but it is much easier to do it by lift. In 2015, almost 7 million tourists visited it.

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18. Milan Cathedral (Italy)

The construction of the Milan Cathedral with interruptions lasted for almost 600 years (1386-1965), but the result was excellent. It has become the main attraction of the city. Built in the fiery Gothic style, the Duomo has become one of the most beautiful and monumental religious buildings in the world. At the same time, it can accommodate up to 40 thousand worshipers. Almost 6 million travelers come to see the Milan Cathedral every year.

19. Palace of Versailles (Versailles, France)

In the suburbs of Paris, Versailles, the French kings made themselves a luxurious residence with huge parks, magnificent gardens, fountains and statues. Now the Palace of Versailles has become a famous French museum, exhibiting chic art exhibitions. The Versailles Palace and its park complex are a place that attracts a huge number of tourists from all over the world. So, according to data for 2008, the museums of Versailles were visited by about 5 million people, and twice as many tourists are exercising along the alleys of its parks.

20. Statue of Liberty (New York, USA)

Donated by France for the centenary of the United States, the Statue of Liberty has so harmoniously blended into the picture of Manhattan that it has become one of the main and recognizable sights of the entire United States. She was placed on a tiny island and turned her face towards Europe, as if welcoming emigrants arriving on ships from the Old World. This sculpture is viewed annually by over 4 million people.

21. Colosseum (Rome, Italy)

In addition to the now well-known name, the Colosseum is also called the Flavian Amphitheater. It is in the very center Of the eternal city... It was the largest of the erected Roman amphitheaters - its capacity was 50-80 thousand spectators who came here for a variety of entertainment: animal baiting, gladiatorial fights, executions of criminals and the first Christians, entertainment shows, dramas, and other events. In modern Rome, the Colosseum attracts the most visitors - up to 4 million a year.

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22. Expiatory Temple of the Sagrada Familia (Barcelona, ​​Spain)

Still not even fully completed, the Sagrada Familia, a masterpiece of architecture by the great Antoni Gaudi, has become incredibly popular with tourists who rush to Barcelona from all over the world to enjoy its splendor. More than 3 million tourists come to the temple every year, which is almost 2 times the population of Barcelona itself. The tallest tower is supposed to be 172 meters high, and the temple, which is being built entirely with donations, is scheduled for completion around 2026.

23. Angkor Wat (Angkor, Cambodia)

This is the name of the Cambodian temple complex, which was built as a Hindu temple during the existence of the Khmer Empire. On this moment it is considered the world's largest religious monument. The flow of tourists here began to grow in the early 90s of the last century, after the brutal tyranny of Pol Pot was ended in the country. So, if in 1993 the temple complex was visited by 7,650 people, then in 2012 more than 2 million people have already visited it. Now it is the most visited attraction in this country.

24. Tower (London, United Kingdom)

Historical Fortress Tower located in London on the left bank of the Thames, in the heart of the English capital. It was built in the 11th century, and now it has become one of the country's brightest sights and is protected by UNESCO. For example, in 2015, over 2.7 million tourists came to see the Tower.

25. Christ the Redeemer Statue (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil)

Standing on the top of the 700-meter rock Corcovado, the statue of Christ the Redeemer is 30 m high (plus 8 m of the pedestal) with arms outstretched (28 meters) as if it protects the city stretched out at its feet. It looks very impressive, so every year about 2 million tourists come to Rio de Janeiro to admire the city, including the statue.

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Pyramids at Giza are the oldest and largest pyramids in the world, but most importantly, the pyramid of Cheops, the only one of the Seven Wonders the ancient world surviving to this day. And without a doubt, the pyramids in Giza deservedly rank first in the Top 10 attractions in the world.

These pyramids were built inas tombs for the ancient Egyptian kings, uhThese royal tombs reflect strength and wealth ancient civilization Egypt.

More popular than any other landmarks in the world, the Great Pyramids of Giza are located west of the Nile, near the capital of Egypt, Cairo. Vthe great pyramid of Cheops is the oldest and largest, it was built as a tomb for the ancient Egyptian king Khufu (Cheops).It has a height of 137 meters, which means the pyramid of Cheops was the tallest structure on Earth for several millennia, until the towers of the Cologne Cathedral were completed in 1880, and consists of2,300,000 blocks, some weighing up to 200 tons.

The second pyramid at Giza was built for Khafre, the son of King Khufu.It was built in 2592 BC, tThe retya pyramid at Giza was built for Menkaur, the son of King Khafre.

2. Great Wall of China, China

The most popular attraction in China, one of the seven wonders of the world of our time.It is the longest man-made structure in the world and stretches for as much as 6,300 kilometers.Construction of the first part Of the great wall began under Emperor Qin Shi Huang in the 7th century, other parts of the wall were added by subsequent emperors of China at a later time.

Stones, bricks, compacted earth and wood were used to build the Great Wall.More than 1 million people lost their lives during its construction and it has become the longest cemetery in the world. More than 8 million people visit it annually.

3. Statue of Liberty, New York, USA

The Statue of Liberty is recognized as the main attraction of the United States, it is a symbol of Freedom, then why millions of migrants from Europe, to a country of great opportunities, sought. Colossal sculpture located 3 kilometers from Manhattan in New York.The statue actually represents the Roman goddess of Liberty and is a gift from the people of France to the United States.

It was designed by the French sculptor Frederic Auguste Bartholdi and is a gift from the United States for the world exhibition on October 28, 1876. OAbout 4 million tourists visit the Statue of Liberty every year. The height of this amazing sculpture is 93 meters, from the ground to the tips of the torch.

4. Taj Mahal, India

The most popular historical monument in India, located in the city of Agra.It was built by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his wife Mumtaz Mahal. The architecture of the building traces the features of stylesMughal, Islamic, Persian, Ottoman and Indian.It took 17 years to build the Taj Mahal, and the first stone was laid in 1632. It is included in the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites, millions of tourists visit it every year.

5. Eiffel Tower, Paris

This is one of the most recognizable structures in the world, located in the capital of France, Paris. It was named after Gustave Eiffel, the engineer in charge of design and construction. The tower is over 300 meters high and weighs over 10,000 tons; construction was completed in 1889. for him; s construction. The 324-meter tower weighs 10,100 tons and was opened in 1889. For the next 41 years it remained the tallest building in the world.

6. Colosseum, Rome

It is the largest amphitheater in the world during the Roman Empire.It is also the most popular tourist and iconic symbol in Rome. Coliseumwas built in 70 AD. Emperor Vespasian.It was used for gladiatorial fights and social events.Gladiator fights took place at the Colosseum until AD 435.It can accommodate up to 50,000 spectators and has 80 entrances.

7. Big Ben, England

The vast majority of tourists associate Big Ben with England and is rightfully considered the main tourist attraction of the country. Few people know that in fact Big Ben is not a separate attraction, but a part Palace of Westminster, London. Big Ben is home to the world's largest chimes and is the third tallest clock tower in the world. It is named after Benjamin Hall, one of the architects of this clock tower, which was built between 1848 and 1853.

8. Stonehenge, England

One of the most popular places worldwide, located in Salisbury England.This prehistoric monument consists of standing stones and a large number of mounds.Archaeologists estimate that Stonehenge was built between 3000 and 2000 BC.

9. Golden Gate, USA

The most recognizable landmark in California, the Golden Gate Bridge is a suspension bridge that connects San Francisco to the rest of Northern California. Its length is almost 3 kilometers, and the height of the pillars is 227 meters, itwas opened in 1937 and for the next 27 years remained the longest suspension bridge in the world. It is considered one of the most photographed attractions in the United States.

10. Sydney Opera House, Australia

Sydney Opera theatre is the most recognizable landmark and symbol of Australia, located on the shores of Sydney Harbor. More than 1,500 performances take place in this theater every year, it is consideredone of the busiest art centers in the world. Calculated, that over 7 million people visit this amazing Sydney tourist attraction.

“Well, we'll come. Well, let's take a dip. Well, let's have a cocktail. So, what is next? What do we do?" Sound familiar? If yes, congratulations, you are the very type of people who cannot sit still. Well, if, moreover, limp reclining in sun loungers inspires you as little as strong-willed surfing, then you are completely their small but elite class of aesthetes, greedy for art and architecture.

Admit it, you simply cannot look at the creations of Dali without trembling in your knees, the Acropolis brings you to a state close to prayer ecstasy, and the streets of old Prague are almost crazy. Congratulations, you are "an ordinary tourist, excursion-oriented."

All the salt excursion tourism lies in the fact that it quietly coexists with beach vacation, and with skiing, as, indeed, with any other. One does not exclude the other here, but rather complements.

However, there are whole tours dedicated to sightseeing of cities and capitals, antiquities and natural wonders of all five continents. Such trips are usually chosen by individuals who are married to art or simply greedy for it in an amicable way, and people who want to see the world on vacation, and not just a couple of paradise, but absolutely identical atolls.

But in order to be as honest with yourself as possible, you must nevertheless say that a "naked" excursion will not give you much pleasure - in your head there will be only a chaotic cocktail of porticoes and rotundas, dozens of museum halls and thousand-year-old ruins.

When choosing a program, do not chase the number of attractions - in the end, go on a trip again. Choose a moderate pace - richly sprinkle the excursions with rest, and get the most vivid and fresh impressions.

Destinations of rest

Classics: Europe. The main blow of the excursion elements usually falls on Mother Europe with its Czech Republic, France, Greece, Italy, Spain, and other antique-medieval joys. Tours in Europe, which, as you know, is not so great, often cover more than one country. Sometimes tours include visits to world famous attractions such as, for example, Versailles in France, the Colosseum in Italy, the Acropolis in Greece. Sometimes excursions are conducted exclusively to little-known places, sometimes highly specialized tours are organized, for example, on baroque architecture or on a temple structure.

Ancient civilizations. The second number in the popularity rating are the countries that grew up on the wreckage of ancient civilizations - Egypt, India, China, Chile, Peru, Mexico. Obviously, such tours are second not in terms of tourist interest, but in terms of distance, which is expressed not so much in geographical terms as in monetary terms. Ancient civilizations that have monuments that take us away even not into centuries - into millennia - are surprisingly mysterious and therefore alluring. The further into the dust of time, the more secrets to which, as you know, no one can remain indifferent.

Exotics and ecology. Ancient civilizations are followed by countries with exotic landscapes and landscapes - the Australian Big Barrier Reef, lakes of the USA, waterfalls of Nigeria, fantastic nature of the Galapagos. All this is really unusual. Amazing. Almost unrealistic.

Way of life. The next are countries with an unusual way of life - that is, any place on the planet, whose existence differs from our multi-storey panel existence. Tunisian Berbers living in caves, Arab countries with their unconditional and fascinating adherence to the laws of the Koran, Japanese culture and the culture of the American Indians. For a civilized person, which, obviously, is the entire excursion-amateur tribe, such differences cause only admiration - at least from the understanding of how diverse the life of people on this planet can be.

Excursion Russia. Well, native Russia closes the five leading directions. The vastness of our country is huge: 9 climatic zones and the same number of time zones, mountain ranges, hills, deep rivers, tens and hundreds of natural wonders - Avachinskaya Bay, Kungurskaya Ice cave, Krasnoyarsk Pillars, Uzon Caldera ... it's probably impossible to list everything. And then, there is also the magnificent architecture of our cities - Moscow, St. Petersburg, Kazan, the luxury of folk crafts - Suzdal, Semenov, Gus-Khrustalny. Russia is inexhaustible, large and gorgeous, besides, in comparison with all of the above, it is quite budgetary.

Tourists annually: 9-10 million

The Great Wall of China sounds simple and powerful at the same time. The 8,851.9 km long structure stretches across China, with its most impressive site, Badaling, located 75 km from Beijing. Most of the wall has survived to this day, although it was built during the Ming dynasty (1368-1644), and the beginning of the construction of individual sections dates back to 770 BC. Such a large-scale construction was possible thanks to the labor of millions of slaves and prisoners of war, on whose backs granite blocks, stones and bricks were delivered to the tops of the highest rocks.

2. Colosseum, Rome

Tourists annually: 6.9 million

After completion in 80 AD, the arena of the Colosseum accommodated 50 thousand spectators, who gathered to watch various theatrical performances (mythological dramas), reconstructions of land and sea battles, as well as executions and gladiator fights. In 2010, underground floors were opened for tourists, where gladiators were waiting for their exit to a deadly duel. The upper floors of the Colosseum offer a picturesque panorama of the Eternal City.

3. Roman Forum, Rome

Tourists annually: 5.1 million

The Roman Forum remained the civic center of the city for 1200 years, from the 5th century BC. This square was home to commercial buildings and the main government offices of Rome. The ruins of temples, columns and ancient frescoes take us back two thousand years ago and remind us of the former greatness of the city.

4. Terracotta Army, Xi'an, China

Tourists annually: 3.6-4.5 million

The Terracotta Army was discovered in 1974. This sculptural composition consists of more than 8 thousand statues of warriors made of clay in full size: generals, infantry, cavalry, archers, chariots, more than 400 horses. Each with unique facial features, hairstyles, and clothing elements, which makes the sculptures even more convincing. The statues were buried together with Emperor Qin Shi Huang, becoming part of the majestic acropolis. It is believed that some of the warriors have not yet been excavated, since the excavations were stopped until a method was found to protect the paints that painted the statues from fading in the open air.

5. Pyramids at Giza, Egypt

Tourists annually: 4 million

Created 4.5 thousand years ago, the pyramids are still considered one of the Seven Wonders of the World and a symbol of Egypt. We still don't know exactly how the ancient Egyptians were able to build them, which adds intrigue and even more attractiveness for tourists. Three huge sarcophagi for the pharaohs are located 25 kilometers from the center of Cairo, a city with 11 million inhabitants.

6. Pompeii, Italy

Tourists annually: 2.5 million

Visiting Pompeii, walking along its ancient stone streets, one can imagine how people lived in the Roman Empire in the 1st century AD. Coastal city in 79 AD was completely covered with ash and pumice during the sudden eruption of Mount Vesuvius. Under a layer of ash, people, animals, houses were imprinted, creating a kind of frozen cast of the life of the ancient city.

7. Acropolis, Athens

Tourists annually: 2 million

The Acropolis is located on one of the hills of Athens and is crowned at the top by the Parthenon - a temple to the goddess Athena, a kind of symbol of classical Greece and the origins of democracy. Built in the 5th century BC, the Parthenon lost most of its decoration, and the marble sculptures that adorned it appeared “mysteriously” in European museums (there are still unsuccessful negotiations on their return to Greece).

8. Ephesus, Turkey

Tourists annually: 2 million

Literally 30 years ago, Ephesus was almost completely abandoned Roman ruins in a sparsely populated region of Turkey. But now, thanks to this attraction, the local economy has begun to develop rapidly. The ancient library and other buildings were restored to recreate the atmosphere big city since the beginning of our era, and in the amphitheater, with a capacity of 25 thousand seats, theatrical performances based on ancient dramas are held.

9. Teotihuacan, Mexico

Tourists annually: 1.9 million

Pyramidal terraces dedicated to the Sun and the Moon towered over the ancient square of the sacred city, built in the period from the first to the seventh century AD. With base sides of more than 200 meters and a height of 64.5 meters, the Pyramid of the Sun is considered the third largest pyramid in the world. At the same time, the Pyramid of the Feathered Serpent (Quetzalcoatl) has a brighter decorative finish: with unique sculptures and a bas-relief.

10. Hieropolis, Turkey

Tourists annually: 1.6 million

The dazzling white terraces of the Pamukkale hot spring pools have drawn people's attention to the area for more than two thousand years. Therefore, it is not surprising that the ancient Greco-Roman city of Hieropolis was erected here. Displaced from travertine in 190 BC, it is “ resort town»Has the ruins of temples, a well-preserved amphitheater and a Sacred Pool, where you can swim among the ancient Roman columns.

11. Chichen Itza, Yucatan, Mexico

Tourists annually: 1.4 million

The stepped terraces of the pyramid of Kukulkan, called by the Spaniards El Castillo or the Castle, rise above the ancient city surrounded by tropical jungle. The Maya began building the city in the seventh century AD, and then, three centuries later, it was captured by the Toltec tribes. A huge balustrade with the feathered head of a serpent, the deity of Kukulkan, flanks the stairs leading to the top of the pyramid.

12. Ellora, India

Tourists annually: 1.2 million

34 temples, monasteries honoring Buddha and Hindu gods, and numerous caves were carved into the basalt rock between 600 and 1000 AD. The solid stone buildings and the passageways between them are decorated with thousands of different intricate bas-reliefs and sculptures.

13.Hadrian's Val, England

Tourists annually: 1.2 million

When the Roman army failed to defeat the "barbarians" in northern Britain, Emperor Hadrian in 122 AD. ordered to build a stone wall a little south of the modern border between England and Scotland, which has survived to this day. Today, Hadrian's Val among the "barbarian" Scots has become a source of pride, praising their invincible spirit. Along the 117 km long defensive fortification passes the popular walking route Path National Trail.

14. Roman Baths, Bath, England

Tourists annually: 1.1 million

The Celts were the first to declare these springs sacred and dedicated them to their goddess Sulis. Then, in 43 AD, the Romans came and renamed Sulis as their goddess Minerva and built a spa town with the Latin name Aquae Sulis, with baths and the temple of Sulis-Minerva. Later, the city was renamed Bath (from the English Bath - bath), and in the 18th century, public buildings were built in the neoclassical style.

15. Longmen, China

Tourists annually: 1.1 million

The complex of Buddhist cave temples of the 5-9 centuries, with many statues of Buddha and Bodhisattva, carved in 1,350 caves and 750 niches, is located along the limestone bank of the Ihe River. Some of the statues, of which there are more than 110 thousand, are over 7 meters high. One of the caves even displays numerous medical prescriptions.

16. Stonehenge, England

Tourists annually: 1.1 million

The meaning of the mysterious megaliths, exhibited in a circle more than 6 thousand years ago, people interpret as they wish. Perhaps they had some astronomical significance or were part of Druidic rituals. It is now a place of pilgrimage for neo-pagans, feminists (linking Stonehenge to matriarchy times), aliens and science fiction fans. Especially many people visit this attraction, located 100 kilometers from London, on the summer solstice.

17. Tulum, Yucatan, Mexico

Tourists annually: 1.1 million

This famous Mayan city, surrounded on the north, west and south side wall, and in the eastern part overlooking the banks Caribbean, reached its power in the 1200s A.D. Temples, walls, frescoes and carvings of Tulum (originally Zama, meaning "sunrise") have withstood salty sea winds, hurricanes and lost much of the characteristics of other Mayan ruins for centuries. However, Tulum is popular with tourists due to its affordable and convenient location.

18. Machu Picchu, Peru

Tourists annually: 1 million

To get to Machu Picchu, you can take train tickets or go on foot, as the ancient Incas did, along a trail leading up to a 2450-meter mountain ridge that rises above the Urubamba River. Many people dream of visiting Machu Picchu, because this city looks older than it really is; its construction began relatively recently - around 1400 AD. So many people come here that the issue of limiting the number of visitors to 2,500 people per day or 912,500 per year is being considered.

19. Canyon des Shay, Arizona

Tourists annually: 828.1 thousand

Native Americans lived around Red Rock Canyon for more than 5,000 years, and 800 years ago they built their homes on the bottom of the rocks. The protected area of ​​the Canyon de Shey is located within the reservation of the Navajo Indian people, so you can only visit the monument with a guide from this tribe. The exception is the White House Ruins tourist trail. The name of the canyon comes from its Indian name Tséyi ', which means “canyon”; they pronounced the word “say-ee,” and was heard as “de-shey”.

20. Angkor Wat, Angkor Archaeological Park, Cambodia

Tourists annually: 804.7 thousand

Originally the Angkor Wat temple, erected between the 9th and 15th century AD. during the formation of the Khmer Empire, it was dedicated to various Hindu gods. Despite the fact that Angkor Wat eventually became a place of pilgrimage for Buddhists, the architecture of the temple still reflects the significant Indian heritage of those times.

21. Masada, Masada National Park, Israel

Tourists annually: 786 thousand

At the end of the first century BC. King Herod I the Great of Judea built a luxurious three-level palace on the top of a mountain plateau, stretching over the desert at an altitude of 400 meters. Roman mosaics, wall paintings, reservoirs for collecting water, baths and military barracks have been preserved quite well due to the dry climate and the sufficient distance of the fortress. The story is known that this fortress remained the last stronghold for survivors after the Great Jewish Revolt that took place in 66 AD, and only five years later the Roman legionnaires managed to capture the defenders.

22. Mogao Grottoes (Cave of a Thousand Buddhas), Dunhuang, China

Tourists annually: 750 thousand

At the crossroads of the Great Silk Road, Buddhist monks carved 492 caves and more than 2,000 sculptures decorated with clay and paint from stone. For millennia (from 6 to 16 centuries ago), monks created frescoes on 45 thousand square meters of the walls of these caves, striking both in their scale and beauty. The frescoes reflect paintings about Buddhism, local history and the daily life of the inhabitants of the region.

23. Knossos, Crete, Greece

Tourists annually: 705.3 thousand

There is an opinion that the ruins of this Minoan city, built during the Bronze Age, are the lost Atlantis, information about which came down to us from the descriptions of Plato. It is believed that Knossos was destroyed by a volcanic eruption on the island of Santorini in about 1500 BC. The only thing that has survived to this day and managed to be restored: the so-called Palace of Minos, where frescoes with images of dolphins, fish, griffins and people of that era have been preserved.

24. Petra, Jordan

Tourists annually: 629.8 thousand

The ancient city was created by the Arab people of the Nabataeans. Temples and monuments skillfully carved from stone, the majestic Temple-Mausoleum of Al-Khazneh and more than 500 tombs were created along the narrow gorge. A thousand years ago, this once prosperous city was located at the crossroads of trade routes that carried incense, spices and silk; thanks to this, the cultural influence of other ancient civilizations is noticeable here: Romans, Greeks, Arabs, Egyptians and Phoenicians.

25. Montezuma Castle, Arizona

Tourists annually: 573.7 thousand

The name of this place can be misleading: after all, this structure is not at all a castle and has nothing to do with the Aztecs and their ruler. The building, consisting of 20 cave rooms in a sheer cliff at a height of 20 meters, was created by the Pueblo Indians (Anasazi culture) 800 years ago. Small T-shaped entrances kept warm in the dwelling and protected from the wind. This is one of the best-preserved ancient rock settlements of the American Indians.

26. Mesa Verde National Park, Colorado

Tourists annually: 572.3 thousand

The cliff dwellings of the Anasazi Indians (ancestors of the modern Pueblos) were built of sandstone bonded with mud between the 6th and 12th centuries AD, becoming one of the largest and best-preserved ancient settlements in North America. Plastered in red, brown and white, the walls retained images of people, animals, handprints and various geometric patterns. Perhaps the colors had some kind of generic meaning.

27. Mira (Church of St. Nicholas), Antalya, Turkey

Tourists annually: 544.8 thousand

Lycian tombs with square columns that look like houses were carved into limestone rocks in the 4th century BC. They rise above a well-preserved Roman amphitheater with a double vaulted corridor. However, this ancient city now better known for the restored 9-11th century church, which bears the name of a local saint who did good to people - St. Nicholas (now better known as Santa Claus).

28. Pergamum (Bergama), Izmir, Turkey

Tourists annually: 536 thousand

Izmir is now the closest major city to Pergamum, the ancient Hellenic cultural center with an acropolis towering 250 meters above the valley, the temples of Athena and Troyanu made of marble, a Greek amphitheater and a library with 200 thousand manuscripts found in it. In the 2nd century A.D. in this valley, Galen, one of the most famous doctors of antiquity, opened the largest medical center, based at the temple of Asklepion.

29. Troy, Canakkale, Turkey

Tourists annually: 515.9 thousand

Troy was immortalized in Homer's Iliad, which recounts the misfortune that happened to the city in about 1183 BC. Until the 19th century, the location of Troy was unknown. Now tourists come here to see the 10-meter Trojan horse with windows and the preserved sections of the city walls, reminiscent of the heroic fate of Troy.

30. Delphi, Greece

Tourists annually: 500 thousand

The site of the erection of majestic temples, created among the mountains in the Neolithic period 6 thousand years ago, was considered by the ancient Greeks to be the center or "navel" of the whole world. Here were erected a temple to Apollo, Athena and other gods, as well as stone terraces and houses for the rest of the parishioners. The famous Oracle reached its greatest influence between the 6th and 4th centuries BC.

31. Gaochang, Xinjiang, China

Tourists annually: 500 thousand

An oasis city located on the Silk Road between the Fire Mountains and the Taklamakan Desert, from the 1st century BC. until the 14th century was the western Chinese cultural, economic and political center. Reconstruction works in Gaochang, modeled after the city of Xi'an, once largest cities of the world are still underway.

32. Ajanta, India

Tourists annually: 416 thousand

Using only hammers and chisels, it took Buddhist monks 15 to 21 centuries to create 30 caves - each with separate indoor areas and ice-holes, from which a view of the gorge and the river opened. The monasteries are decorated with paintings and stone statues of Buddha and bodhisattvas. Samples of magnificent works of art reveal the way of life of Indians in those distant times.

33. Coba, Quintana Roo, Mexico

Tourists annually: 400.6 thousand

This 2000-year-old Mayan city with the tallest pyramid in the Yucatan Peninsula was the center for 46 sakbe or “white roads” connecting different parts of the meso-state, built of rubble, pebbles and limestone. Koba is surrounded by five sinkholes filled with water (cenotes) and impenetrable tropical jungle.

34. Perge (Perga), Antalya, Turkey

Tourists annually: 399.8 thousand

The ruins of Perge nowadays surround the fields and countryside near Antalya, but two thousand years ago there was a thriving Roman city here. Alexander the Great passed through these places with his army, then the Romans came and built baths, fountains, a 60-meter agora ( market Square in ancient city-states), an amphitheater for 12 thousand spectators and a boulevard with a colonnade. This place is also known for its unusual stone gate towers, built with a combination of Greek and Roman styles, and what the Apostle Paul preached here.

35. Herculaneum, Italy

Tourists annually: 320.5 thousand

Buried in ash after the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD, this town is even better preserved than nearby Pompeii. Here a dramatic picture of the last minutes of the life of the ancient Roman city opens, with its public baths, storage and living quarters, luxurious villas, hidden for many years under a 20-meter layer of volcanic rock.

When a tourist is going to travel to any country, it is useful for him to think over the plan of his movements in advance and choose those sights that should be visited first. Just remember, there are so many of these sights that your whole life may not be enough to see them!

Machu Picchu (Peru)

The ancient Inca city of Machu Picchu was dubbed the new wonder of the world. It was built in the saddle of a mountain range with an elevation of 2450 meters, for which it received the figurative name "city among the clouds" or "city in the sky". A number of archaeologists believe that this "sacred" mountain shelter was built around 1440 by the ruler of the Incas Pachacutek. The city flourished until 1532, when the Spanish conquerors came here, after which all the inhabitants of the city mysteriously disappeared.

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Sheikh Zayed Mosque (Abu Dhabi, UAE)

Sheikh Zayed Mosque is one of the six largest mosques in the world. It is dedicated to the founder of the UAE and the first president of this country, Sheikh Zayed ibn Sultan al Nahyan. The uniqueness of this mosque is that any visitors, regardless of their faith, are allowed into it. The mosque impresses with its grandiose size, magnificent architecture, white marble and magnificent green gardens.

Taj Mahal (Agra, India)

One of the wonders of the world - the Taj Mahal mausoleum is perhaps the most recognizable world, and not only Indian, landmark. It was built by the emperor of the Mughal dynasty Shah Jahan for the repose of his beloved third wife Mumtaz Mahal, who died during childbirth. This is one of the most beautiful buildings in the world has become the personification of eternal love. The mausoleum has 5 domes, the highest of which rises to 74 meters, as well as 4 minarets at the corners of the complex. Near the mosque there is a huge pool with fountains and a magnificent garden. The walls of the mausoleum are covered with perfectly polished, seemingly translucent marble slabs, decorated with incredibly beautiful floral and plant ornaments.

Basilica of Saint Peter (Vatican)

The Basilica of St. Peter, which is the heart of the Vatican and the Catholic Church, is one of the most important landmarks of the Eternal City. From its dome, the whole of Rome is viewed from a bird's-eye view, but its inner splendor is even more striking, to which the best masters of the Renaissance had a hand.

Angkor Wat (Cambodia)

The Angkor Wat temple complex in Cambodia is the largest religious building, built almost 9 centuries ago. Even its name testifies to monumentality, as it translates as "city-temple". Its 200 hectares are surrounded by a 190 m wide moat. This colossal temple is dedicated to Vishnu, who is worshiped by Cambodians.

Ancient city of Petra (Jordan)

In the center of Jordan, in the Siq Canyon among the sandstone mountains is the amazing ancient city of Petra. It was created by the nomadic tribes of the Nabateans as a temporary refuge. Gradually, several inhabited rocky caves turned into a real fortress city, which could only be reached through the narrow Siq gorge, which was once a turbulent mountain stream. Petra is now owned by Bedouins, who welcome visitors to their land more cordially.

Mutianyu - a section of the Great Wall of China (China)

It is on this site of the ancient Great Wall of china the restorers did the best. It houses 22 watchtowers in their original form, so they are considered an architectural masterpiece. Translated from Chinese, Mutianyu means something like “valley with beautiful views fields ". This section of the wall has been completely restored and is open to tourists.

Sagrada Familia (Barcelona, ​​Spain)

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This grandiose Catholic church is being built at a classical medieval pace - the second hundred years have already passed, and it is still being built, however, only with donations from parishioners, without attracting budget funds. If Gaudi had not joined this project in 1882, then maybe even today there would have been a lot of controversy regarding the type of the temple. The great Catalan architect until his death supervised the construction of the temple, but died without even having built half of it. The facades of the temple look very different, as the successors of the construction contributed their ideas. After the consecration of the temple in 2010 by Pope Benedict XVI, it was given the title of the Little Papal Basilica.

Christ the Redeemer Statue (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil)

The colossal statue of Christ the Redeemer towering over Rio has long become a symbol of the city. Millions of tourists each year climb to its foot, which offers breathtaking views of the city, the bay, Ipanema and Copacabana beaches, and Sugarloaf Mountain.

Teotihuacan (San Juan Teotihuacan, Mexico)

The name of this ancient settlement Aztec means "the city in which people turn into gods." They believed that the gods returned to Teotihuacan after the Flood to recreate the world. Historians believe that the population of this ancient city was about 200 thousand people. Unfortunately, the age of this largest city in the pre-Columbian era has not been precisely established.

Grand Canyon (USA)

The Grand Canyon is one of the deepest in the world. It is cut by the Colorado River in the plateau of the same name, located in the state of Arizona, its length is almost 450 kilometers. Now it has become part of the national park of the same name. In the widest places, the canyon is up to 29 kilometers wide. The scale of this sample of natural erosion is astounding. Extreme lovers come here to create something like that.

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Milan Cathedral (Italy)

The Duomo or Milan Cathedral is the main attraction of Milan and a gem of Italian architecture in the style of flaming Gothic. Its construction stretched from 1386 to the beginning of the 19th century, and something was completed even in the last century. This is the third largest Catholic cathedral on our planet. Its sharp spire, crowned with a golden Madonna, is 106 meters high.

Colored rocks of Zhangye Danxia (China)

Zhangye Danxia National Geopark is located in China's Gansu province, and its main attraction is the magnificent colored rocks. This natural wonder was formed as a result of the layered deposits of sandstone and various minerals during the Cretaceous period. The height of these hills reaches several hundred meters. In the panoramic image, it seems that the local landscape was painted by some giant artist with orange, red, green, gray-blue and yellow colors.

Palace and park ensemble Peterhof (Russia)

The suburban royal residence of Peterhof appears before the public as an extravaganza of flowing water, the kingdom of fountains and magnificent palaces, in which the era of the first Russian emperor is felt, the brilliant Elizabethan interiors and the more austere times of Nicholas I. Few can match Peterhof in luxury. royal residences... The pride of the park is the unique system of fountains created by the Russian hydraulic engineer Tuvolkov during the reign of Peter I. Although it copied the Versailles system, it surpassed it in many ways.

Egyptian pyramids

The ancients located near Cairo Egyptian pyramids are the eternal symbol of the most ancient state. Here the red-hot sands of the Libyan desert come into contact with the fertile soils of the great Nile valley. There are many pyramids in Egypt: high and not very, stepped and smooth, well preserved and practically destroyed. Pyramids are found in different places in Egypt: Memphis, Saqqara, Upper Egypt, Hawara, Abusir, Medum, Abu Rawash and El Lahoun. Most of them are unfamiliar to tourists, for whom the main ones are the pyramids of Giza, a suburb of Cairo. It is believed that they were built 2600-2300 BC. NS.

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Acropolis (Athens, Greece)

On a high hill in the very center of Athens, there are buildings from ancient times - the Athenian Acropolis. The temples of the Parthenon, Hecatompedon, the Erechtheion, the Temple of Niki Apteros, the Statue of Athena Promachos, the Propylaea - the buildings of the main entrance and much more are located here. In total, there are about 21 buildings and structures in the acropolis. The history of the Acropolis is tragic: the Greco-Persian war almost destroyed it, and Persian harems and mosques settled in its temples. Later, an enterprising British lord, without embarrassment, took from here to London and Paris many valuable fragments, which are now exhibited in the Louvre and the British Museum. Fortunately, at the end of the 19th century, the Greeks decided to restore the Acropolis, for which they demolished everything that was built here later. Therefore, now tourists can enjoy the pristine appearance of the ancient walls and columns.

Lalibela Rock Churches (Ethiopia)

This unique place is often called "the new Jerusalem". All 11 churches of Lalibela were carved into the rocks about 800 years ago. The place was named after Lalibela - the ruler of Ethiopia who lived in the XII century, who founded his capital on this place. All the churches took only one century to build, prompting speculation that the builders were helped by angels who worked at night. In the centuries that followed, the churches were guarded by clergy, who also preserved treasures, wrote manuscripts and blessed the Bible. The Cathedral of Christ the Savior has the largest dimensions - 11 m in height and 33 m in length; the colonnade at the facade, which includes 28 large columns, is also impressive. Here is the main Ethiopian shrine - a ritual cross, which once belonged to King Lalibela.

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Moscow Kremlin (Russia)

The oldest building in the capital of Russia is its fortress - the Kremlin. Each part is a separate chapter of the story. In the early period of the development of the capital, the walls of the Kremlin protected residents from the enemy, but now it has become just a small corner in the very center of the city. The Moscow Kremlin is one of the Russian sites included by UNESCO in the list of its protected World heritage... Within the territory of modern kremlin numerous architectural and historical monuments are densely located: the Palace of Facets, the Tsar Cannon, the Tsar Bell, several historic churches, etc. Nowadays, the Moscow Kremlin is the official residence of the President of Russia.

Zhangjiajie National Park (China)

If you've watched the movie "Avatar", then you must have been struck by the "flying" rocks in the area called Pandora. Almost the entire landscape was not drawn on the computer, it was filmed here - in national park Zhangjiajie, which is located in the Wulingyuan Mountains (southeastern Chinese province of Hunan). On the territory of the park, you can observe quartzite rocks, up to 800 meters high - the result of millennia of erosion. The Wulingyuan mountain range has much more high peaks- reaching heights of over 3000 meters.

Eiffel Tower (Paris, France)

Who would have thought that the temporary structure built for the World Exhibition would not only survive, but also become the most recognizable symbol of Paris and all of France, the most important attraction of the country's capital. On her observation decks, from where you can see the whole of Paris at a glance, millions of tourists from all over the world rise every year, and in the light of night or festive illumination, it becomes a real beauty.

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Hagia Sophia (Istanbul, Turkey)

Whatever the name of this ancient city - Constantinople or Istanbul - it is still adorned with the majestic St. Sophia Cathedral. This is the best example of Byzantine architecture; it has remained an ancient witness to the greatness of the Byzantine Empire. The Turks who conquered the city turned the cathedral into a Muslim mosque in the 15th century, but they treated it quite delicately. Therefore, now tourists have a great opportunity to visit the magnificent Hagia Sophia Museum and enjoy the beauty of the ancient temple.

Iguazu Falls (Argentina-Brazil)

Located on the Iguazu River on the border between Argentina and Brazil, the luxurious Iguazu Falls is twice the height and wider than the famous Niagara Falls in the Great Lakes. It is also called the "Devil's Throat". It stretches along the river for two kilometers, and its cascades form a kind of horseshoe. The emergence of this waterfall was facilitated by a volcanic eruption, after which a large crevice remained in the ground. During the rainy season, the waterfall throws 13,000 cubic meters of water every second, then it looks especially impressive. This is one of the most beautiful waterfalls in the world.

Colosseum (Rome, Italy)

This one of the symbols of the Eternal City appeared in it in 80 years BC. NS. About 50,000 Romans could have gathered there for the spectacle. The very opening of the Colosseum was celebrated in Rome for 100 days, and the fighting in its arena continued until the decline of the empire in the 4th century. Subsequent generations strongly "pinched" the Colosseum, dismantling it for building materials, but there is still much to see.

Alhambra (Granada, Spain)

Translated from Arabic, the Alhambra means "red castle". This magnificent fortress-palace was built by the Moorish rulers in the province of Granada on the top of a rocky plateau. In this wonderful palace, delicate, graceful Moorish architecture appeared in all its splendor.

Sydney Opera House (Australia)

The relatively young building of this theater, built by the Dane Jorn Utzon, instantly became a recognizable symbol of Sydney. The original roof structure resembles half-open shells. This theater has become a must-see for most tourists.

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