Wonders of the World

In 2007, millions of people worldwide voted in a campaign organised by the New7Wonders Foundation to select the New Seven Wonders of the World, reviving the ancient tradition of honouring extraordinary landmarks. The chosen sites (in order of age) – the Great Wall of China, Petra in Jordan, the Colosseum in Italy, Chichén Itzá in Mexico, Machu Picchu in Peru, the Taj Mahal in India and Christ the Redeemer in Brazil – reflect the genius of recent human achievement. Beyond their breathtaking architecture, surroundings and historical significance, these wonders symbolise a shared cultural legacy and highlight the importance of protecting such treasures for generations to come. The Giza Pyramids in Egypt are not part of the list, although they were given honorary status; and The Great Pyramid of Giza is part of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.

The Seven Wonders of the Ancient World were a list of remarkable monuments admired by Greek travellers and scholars in antiquity, mainly around the Mediterranean. They include the Great Pyramid of Giza in Egypt, the only wonder still standing today; the Hanging Gardens of Babylon in Mesopotamia (modern Iraq); the Statue of Zeus at Olympia in Greece; the Colossus of Rhodes, also Greece; the Temple of Artemis at Ephesus (Asia Minor, modern Turkey); the Mausoleum at Halicarnassus (Asia Minor, modern Turkey, specifically Bodrum); and the Lighthouse of Alexandria in Egypt. These wonders, created between roughly 2600 BCE and 280 BCE, reflected the architectural brilliance, artistic skill, and cultural pride of the ancient world, and their legacy continues to inspire awe even in their ruins or through historical accounts.

While chasing all the other Wonders of the World, some particular ancient sites, landmarks or even engineering projects just shock me like no other and leave an everlasting impression. I believe that is what a Wonder should do; so after several occasions of wonderment, and visiting the New Seven Wonders of the World and most of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, I started my own list of personal favourites. By no means do I think these are the best seven places in the word you can visit, but of all the places I have been thus far, these have captivated a part of me the most. Whether that was from pure awe of how they were constructed and the dedication this entailed, the location of the site, or simply how evocative they made me feel at the time.