Top 10 Most Famous Structures In The World

Famous Structures of the World. Photo: KnowInsiders

Just like the beautiful places around the world that are designed and crafted by mother nature itself, the world also has hundreds of amazing and famous structures that are masterpieces of human architecture. These buildings are so famous that they have become the identity of the place where they are situated. In fact, some of these marvelous buildings are more famous than the cities in which they are situated. These famous buildings are simply amazing because they are man-made in every sense, from the building material to the design, every idea has come from a human mind.

Check out right below the top 10 most famous structures in the world according to the Worldatlas ranking right below!

The List Of The Most Famous Structures In The World

1. Petra

2. Machu Picchu

3. Saint Basil's Cathedral

4. White House

5. Forbidden City

6. Sydney Opera House

7. Great Pyramid

8. Taj Mahal

9. Big Ben

10. Colosseum

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Which are the 10 Most Famous Structures In The World?

1. Petra

Photo: KimKim

Petra is an archaeological and a historical city in the Southern part of Jordan which was known by the locals as Raqmu. It is believed that Petra was established as a Nabataean Kingdom capital in the 6th century BC. The settlement could have begun in about 9000 BC in the region. The Nabateans were nomads and Arabs who built Petra because of its proximity to important trade routes in the area. In the 1st century AD, the popular Khazan structure was constructed which is believed to have been the mausoleum of the King of Nabatea, Aretas IV. During the Byzantine period, several churches of Christian faith were built. The significance of the city declined over the years and finally abandoned in the early Muslim era. It was listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site in 1985.

2. Machu Picchu

Photo: Vietnammoi

Saint Basil’s Cathedral is located in Red Square in Moscow, Russia, and it is one of the iconic structures in the country. It was constructed between 1555 and 1561 when Ivan the Terrible ordered its construction to commemorate the capture of Astrakhan and Kazan. It was the tallest building in the city until 1600 when Ivan the Great Bell Tower was constructed. Between the 16th and 17th centuries, it was regarded by the Byzantine Christianity as a symbol of the Heavenly City, and it was given the name Jerusalem. The building was constructed in the shape of rising flame a design that is unique among Russian architecture.

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3. Saint Basil's Cathedral

Photo: Swedish Nomad

Saint Basil’s Cathedral is located in Red Square in Moscow, Russia, and it is one of the iconic structures in the country. It was constructed between 1555 and 1561 when Ivan the Terrible ordered its construction to commemorate the capture of Astrakhan and Kazan. It was the tallest building in the city until 1600 when Ivan the Great Bell Tower was constructed. Between the 16th and 17th centuries, it was regarded by the Byzantine Christianity as a symbol of the Heavenly City, and it was given the name Jerusalem. The building was constructed in the shape of rising flame a design that is unique among Russian architecture.

4. White House

Photo: NBC News

The White House serves as the official residence of the President of the US, and it is located in Pennsylvania Avenue in the capital of Washington, DC. The white house has served as the residents and the working place of all the presidents of the US, starting from John Adams in 1800. The building was designed by James Hoban and architect of Irish descent, who designed it in neoclassical style. It was constructed between 1792 and 1800. The British army set the building ablaze in the War of 1812, and destroyed most of the interior parts and charring the exterior. The first oval office was constructed by President William Howard in 1909.

5. Forbidden City

Photo: Vemaybay123

Not so much a single building as a complex that houses almost a thousand buildings, the Forbidden city, located in Beijing, is a city within a city. While most know it by its iconic gates the complex itself, originally commissioned in the early 15th century by an emperor of the Ming Dynasty, spans a full 72 hectares. Despite only taking fourteen years to build, it has stood as the ceremonial and political centre of the Chinese government for over 500 years.

The complex’s religious and philosophical importance is such that symbolism is a deep part of the architecture with features such as the inner and outer halls all being arranged in groups of three to represent the Qian triangle. The statuettes with their heavenly implications on the buildings roofs denote their importance. While the complex was once very much a forbidden city, it is now open to the public, which would be great if we can ever travel again.

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6. Sydney Opera House

Photo: Du học INEC

Sydney Opera House is widely regarded as one of the greatest architectural works of the 20th century. The innovative design came from architect Jørn Utzon, who was relatively unknown until January 29, 1957, when his entry to the ‘International competition for a national opera house at Bennelong Point, Sydney’ was announced the winner.

The beautiful building comprises three groups of interlocking shells, which roof two main performance halls and a restaurant. A masterpiece of modern architecture, the opera house has become an iconic symbol of both Sydney and the Australian nation.

7. Great Pyramid

Photo: Travel + Leisure

The Great Pyramid of Giza is also known as the Pyramid of Cheops or the Pyramid of Khufu. It is the largest and the oldest of the Giza pyramid complex, which is comprised of three different pyramids. The Pyramid of Giza is the oldest among the Ancient World’s Seven Wonders and has remained largely intact to this day. According to Egyptologists, the pyramid was built within a period of 10 to 20 years in about 2560 BC. It was standing at the height of 481 feet high holding the record as the tallest human-made structure in the world for more than 3,800 years until 1311 AD when Lincoln Cathedral was constructed in England.

8. Taj Mahal

Photo: Hội Kỷ lục gia Việt Nam

The Taj Mahal is an ivory-white marble mausoleum situated near the south bank of Yamuna river in Agra, India. The Taj Mahal is a symbol of love made by an emperor in loving memory of his queen and it is also one of the Seven Wonders Of the World. Construction of the building was completed in 1643 while work on other phases continued for another 10 years. The Taj Mahal was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983 and it is one of the universally famous buildings that shows the rich history of world’s heritage.

To get the goods to the construction site it apparently took a thousand elephants. The famous shape of the Taj Mahal, the one that makes it stand out compared to the other buildings is called Mughal architecture. The tomb itself is made up of complete marble and it is uniquely designed so that if the structure was to collapse it would fall away from the tomb of Mumtaz. And of course within these tombs is the sarcophagi of the emperor and his wife.

9. Big Ben

Photo: Yeudulich

Big Ben is the name given to the clock’s Great Bell in the palace of Westminster. The name is used interchangeably to refer to the clock tower or the clock itself. The Clock Tower was the original name of the tower where Big Ben is located. In 2012, the name was changed to Elizabeth Tower during the Diamond Jubilee of Elizabeth II. The tower was constructed in neo-gothic style, and its designer was Augustus Pugin. Its construction was completed in 1859, and it was the most accurate and the largest four-faced clock in the world. The tower stands at 315 feet above the ground and its base measures 39 feet on each side.

The diameter of the clock’s dials is 23 feet. The tower's 150th-anniversary celebrations were held on May 31, 2009. Of the Five Bells, Big Ben is the largest and weighs 13.7 tons and it held the record of the largest bell in the UK for 23 years. The tower has become a British cultural icon, and is easily recognizable around the world. It has also become one of the UK’s symbols as well as the symbol of the parliamentary democracy.

10. Colosseum

Photo: Wanted in Rome

The Colosseum, also referred to as the Flavian amphitheater, is found in Italy’s city of Rome. It was built using brick-faced concrete, volcanic rocks, and travertine limestone. The construction of the amphitheater began in 72 AD during the reign of Emperor Vespasian and was completed in 80 AD during the reign of Emperor Titus. At the time, it was the largest amphitheater ever constructed and had the capacity of 50,000 people. Between 81 AD and 96 AD further modification was made to the amphitheater during the reign of Emperor Domitian.

The period of the three emperors is known as the Flavian Dynasty, and the name of the theatre was named Flavius, which is a Latin name of the family. The amphitheater was used for public spectacles such as gladiatorial contests or mock sea battles. It was also used for executions, animal hunts, drama, and reenactments of famous battles. The amphitheater has been significantly ruined by earthquakes, stone robbers, and thieves. However, the structure is still imperial Rome’s iconic symbol. It is one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World and one of the major tourist attractions in Rome.

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