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#10 Taj Mahal
The Crown of Palaces. The Taj Mahal is a mausoleum built by an emperor in memory of his third wife. It is an example of architecture that mixed a variety of design styles; Islamic, Indian, Persian, Ottoman and even Turkish. The construction took 21 years, and thousands were involved in the design and creation.
#9 Petra
This beauty is also known as the Rose City. Its alternative name is derived from the color of the stone. Petra is known as an architectural wonder, cut straight from the stone. It was not discovered until 1812 despite it being carved before the birth of Christ.
#8 Roman Colosseum
Rome was not built in a day, and neither was the Colosseum! It's the largest amphitheater in the world and the greatest example of Roman architecture. It was used for battles between gladiators and an estimated value between 65,000 spectators would be able to watch. The Colosseum was partially destroyed by earthquakes, but it remains standing for people to visit today.
#7 Gherkin
Constructed between 2001-2003, the 'Gherkin' cost £193,242,009 in total. It stands 180 meters high and is one of the eye catching buildings in London and an example of modern architecture. The Gherkin was built after plans to build the 'Millennium Tower' were dropped. The tower is occupied by Swiss Re, which is why some know it as the 'Swiss Re Tower' however the name is not official.
#6 Sagrada Familia
Construction still hasn't been completed, but the anticipated year of completion is 2026. Gaudí is responsible for the most part, and the basilica was the cause of a split Barcelona's inhabitants. The reason it still isn't complete is due to disruptions like the Spanish civil war. Funding was also solely from private donations and so a struggle was ever present.
#5 Burj Khalifa
The tallest building since 2010 reaching a staggering height of 829.8 meters! The Burj Khalifa (The Khalifa Tower) took five years to build. It is the center piece for firework displays, and sets the standard 'sky high' for the rest of the world when it comes to New Year's. Just recently they broke a world record and set off over 400,000 fireworks for an incessant 6 minutes.
#4 Blue Mosque
Formally known as the Sultan Ahmed Mosque. After 7 years of construction the mosque was completed in 1616 AD, almost 400 years ago. It is still used today by Muslims for their prayers. There was a heavy chain in front of the mosque entrance in the past, whereby the Sultan would have lowered his head to enter; this symbolized respect to the divine being.
#3 Ferdinand Cheval Palace
Built by a French postman, the Palace was constructed in the image of a perfect piece of architecture. Its style was varied, ranging from Hinduism to Christianity. Day by day, he picked up some stones and built walls. Eventually he scaled up his work and the end result was this beautiful piece.
#2 Beijing National Stadium
This wonder of a stadium cost $459 million to make using today's currency rate. It was built solely for the Olympics and the Chinese government are proposing the construction of hotels and a shopping mall to rejuvenate the area and increase tourist flow.
#1 St.Basil's Cathedral
The geometric center of the great city of Moscow. The colorful architectural design was chosen as a result of capturing new land. The order came from Ivan the Terrible! The building is shaped as a bonfire ascending into the sky, for which there isn't a reason. It certainly is unique!
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