The new 7 wonders of the world
The new 7 wonders of the world were officially announced on 07.07.07 at the declaration ceremony in Lisbon, Portugal. We take a closer look at what they are....
Pyramid at Chichén Itzá (before 800 A.D.) Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico
Chichén Itzá - meaning "at the mouth of the well of Itza", is the most famous Mayan temple city which served as the political and economic centre of the Mayan civilization. The wonderfully preserved step pyramid was the last of all Mayan temples, and was once a monument to the culture's greatest mythical creature - ‘Kukulcan’, the feathered serpent deity. During the spring and fall equinoxes, the structure casts ornate shadows in the form of a feathered serpent along the northern staircase. Other various remains including; the Temple of Chac Mool, the Hall of the Thousand Pillars, and the Playing Field of the Prisoners – can still be seen today and are demonstrative of an extraordinary commitment to architectural space and composition.
The Taj Mahal (1630 A.D.) Agra, India
Built out of white marble and standing in formally laid-out walled gardens, the Taj Mahal is regarded as the most perfect jewel of Muslim art in India. This mausoleum was built on the orders of Shah Jahan, the fifth Muslim Mogul emperor, to honour the memory of his beloved late wife, Mumtaz Mahal. Taj Mahal -meaning ‘Crown Palace’ is a Mausoleum that houses the grave of the queen at the lower chamber. The vast complex comprises of a main gateway, an elaborate garden, a mosque, a guest house and several other palatial buildings. The emperor was consequently jailed and, it is said, could then only see the Taj Mahal out of his small cell window.
Petra (9 B.C. - 40 A.D.), Jordan
On the edge of the Arabian Desert, Petra was the glittering capital of the Nabataean empire of King Aretas IV (9 B.C. to 40 A.D.). The site was discovered by Swiss explorer Johann Ludwig Burckhardt in 1812, and was famously described as "a rose-red city half as old as time". Proven masters of water technology, the Nabataeans provided the city with great tunnel constructions and water chambers. A theatre, modelled on Greek-Roman prototypes, had space for an audience of 4,000. Today, the Palace Tombs of Petra, with the 42-meter-high Hellenistic temple facade on the El-Deir Monastery, are impressive examples of Middle Eastern culture.
Christ Redeemer (1931) Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
This statue of Jesus Christ stands some 39.6 meters tall, atop the Corcovado Mountain overlooking Rio de Janeiro. Designed by Brazilian Heitor da Silva Costa and created by French sculptor Paul Landowski, it is one of the world’s best-known monuments. The structure is built out of reinforced concrete and the outer layers are soapstone, chosen for its enduring qualities and ease of use. The statue took five years to construct and was inaugurated on October 12, 1931. It has become a symbol of the city and of the warmth of the Brazilian people, who receive visitors with open arms.
The Roman Colosseum (70 - 82 A.D.) Rome, Italy
The great amphitheatre in the centre of Rome was built to give favours to successful legionnaires and to celebrate the glory of the Roman Empire. Just east of the Roman Forum, its construction started between 70 and 72 AD under the emperor Vespasian and was completed in 80 AD under Titus. Originally capable of seating around 50,000 spectators, it was used for gladiatorial contests and public spectacles such as animal hunts, executions, re-enactments of famous battles, and dramas based on Classical mythology. Although it is now in a ruined condition due to damage caused by earthquakes and stone-robbers, the Colosseum has long been seen as an iconic symbol of Imperial Rome.
The Great Wall of China (220 B.C and 1368 - 1644 A.D.) China
The Great Wall of China was built to link existing fortifications into a united defence system and to keep invading Mongol tribes out of China. It is the largest man-made monument ever to have been built, stretching over approximately 6,400 km (4,000 miles) and it is disputed that it is the only one visible from space. At its peak, the Ming Wall was guarded by more than one million men. It has been estimated that somewhere in the range of 2 to 3 million Chinese died as part of the centuries-long project of building the wall.
Machu Picchu (1460-1470), Peru
Deep in the Amazon jungle is Machu Picchu, a pre-Columbian Inca site located 7,875 ft above sea level and situated on a mountain ridge above the Urubamba Valley. Often referred to as "The Lost City of the Incas”, the city is probably the most familiar symbol of the Inca Empire. It was built around the year 1450, but abandoned a hundred years later, at the time of the Spanish conquest of the Inca Empire. Forgotten for over three centuries, it was rediscovered by American historian Hiram Bingham in 1911.
Visited any of these wonders? Contact us at the Travellers Club with your stories and experiences. Or get in touch with us on our Facebook page, we look forward to hearing from you.