Italy

The central theme of the fountain is the "Taming of the Waters." The dominant figure is not Neptune, as is often believed, but the Titan god Oceanus, who represents all the Earth's fresh water. He is depicted riding a sh…

Italy

The origins of Pompeii date back to the 8th century BC when the Oscans, an Italic people, established settlements in the area. Over the centuries, the city came under the influence of various powers, including the Greeks…

Germany

Cologne Cathedral is a cathedral in Cologne, North Rhine-Westphalia belonging to the Catholic Church. It is the seat of the Archbishop of Cologne and of the administration of the Archdiocese of Cologne.

Çanakkale, Türkiye

Troy was an ancient city located in present-day Hisarlik, Turkey. It is best known as the setting for the Greek myth of the Trojan War. The archaeological site is open to the public as a tourist destination, and was adde…

Beijing, China

Centerpiece of Tian Tan (Temple of Heaven).

Italy

The Arch of Constantine is a triple triumphal arch located along the route of the triumphal procession between the Roman Forum and the Colosseum. Completed around 315, it was erected to honor Constantine’s victory over M…

France

On a July day in 1825, the last King of France, Charles X, was anointed with oil from the Sainte-Ampoule in the choir of Reims Cathedral. A beam of light, filtered through 13th-century glass, would have fallen upon the s…

Belgium

The Atomium is a landmark modernist building in Brussels, Belgium, originally constructed as the centrepiece of the 1958 Brussels World's Fair. Designed by the engineer André Waterkeyn and the architects André and Jean P…

Belgium

Manneken Pis is a landmark 55.5 cm bronze fountain sculpture in central Brussels, Belgium, depicting a puer mingens; a naked little boy urinating into the fountain's basin. Though its existence is attested as early as th…

Germany

The Porta Nigra, Latin for "Black Gate," is a large and well-preserved Roman city gate in Trier, Germany. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the largest Roman city gate north of the Alps. The gate is a symbol of Trie…

Germany

Heidelberg Castle is a ruin in Germany and landmark of Heidelberg. The castle ruins are among the most important Renaissance structures north of the Alps.

France

Standing in the centre of the Place de la Cathédrale, at 142 metres (466 feet), Strasbourg Cathedral was the world's tallest building from 1647 to 1874 (227 years), when it was surpassed by St. Nikolai's Church, Hamburg.…

Germany

Construction of this palatine chapel, with its octagonal basilica and cupola, began c. 790–800 under the Emperor Charlemagne. Originally inspired by the churches of the Eastern part of the Holy Roman Empire, it was splen…

Shaanxi, China

The Giant Wild Goose Pagoda, also known as the Big Wild Goose Pagoda, is a significant Buddhist pagoda located in the southern part of Xi'an, Shaanxi province, China. A symbol of ancient Xi'an, it stands within the Da Ci…

Shanxi, China

Stripped of its protective façade by a centuries-old rockfall, this fourteen-meter Shakyamuni sits exposed to the open sky, transforming what was once a secluded sanctuary into a monumental declaration of imperial power.…

İzmir, Türkiye

The Pergamon Acropolis, located in modern-day Bergama, İzmir, Türkiye, stands as a testament to the artistic and architectural prowess of the Hellenistic period. Perched atop a high, steep hill, it once served as the pol…

Edirne, Türkiye

The Selimiye Mosque (Selimiye Camii) in Edirne, Turkey, stands as the architectural pinnacle of the Ottoman Empire and the masterwork of Mimar Sinan, history’s most celebrated Islamic architect. Constructed between 1568…

Herzegovina-Neretva Canton, Bosnia & Herzegovina

Old Bridge Mostar is a rebuilt 16th-century Ottoman bridge in the city of Mostar in Bosnia and Herzegovina. It crosses the river Neretva and connects the two parts of the city, which is named after the bridge keepers (mo…

France

Rising majestically in the heart of Amiens, France, the Cathedral of Notre-Dame stands as the largest medieval cathedral in the country by volume and one of the finest examples of High Gothic architecture in Europe. Cons…

Pennsylvania, United States

Conceived as a model of humane and modern incarceration, the prison ended up being an unimaginable torturing panopticon of silence and isolation.

Shaanxi, China

The Bell Tower of Xi'an, constructed in 1384 during the early Ming Dynasty, is a prominent symbol of Xi'an City. It stands at the geographical center of the ancient capital, at the intersection of the four main streets:…

Serbia

Belgrade Fortress, situated at the confluence of the Sava and Danube rivers in Serbia’s capital, Belgrade, has been a strategic stronghold since antiquity.

Türkiye

Anzac Cove, is a poignant and historic site on the Gallipoli Peninsula in Turkey. This small cove became etched in history as the landing site of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC) during World War I on Ap…

Bosnia & Herzegovina

Latin Bridge is an Ottoman-era bridge over the river Miljacka in Sarajevo. The northern end of the bridge was the site of the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria by Gavrilo Princip in 1914, which began t…

Shandong, China

The temple's origins trace back to 478 BC when the Duke of Lu consecrated Confucius's former house as a temple, just two years after his death. The first emperor to offer sacrifices to Confucius in Qufu was Emperor Gao o…

Germany

The Trier Cathedral, is a Roman Catholic cathedral in Trier, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. It holds the distinction of being the oldest cathedral in Germany. The largest religious structure in Trier, it is notable for i…

Germany

Along the gentle curve of the Rhine, in the historic city of Speyer, a colossal form in warm red sandstone rises, dominating the skyline as it has for a thousand years. This is the Imperial Cathedral Basilica of the Assu…

France

Metz Cathedral is the cathedral of the Catholic Diocese of Metz, the seat of the bishops of Metz. It is dedicated to Saint Stephen. The diocese dates back at least to the 4th century and the present cathedral building wa…

Hebei, China

The Zhaozhou Bridge, also known as the Anji Bridge is the world's oldest open-spandrel segmental arch bridge of stone construction. Credited to the design of a craftsman named Li Chun, the bridge was constructed in the y…

Pas-de-Calais, France

The Canadian National Vimy Memorial is a war memorial site in France dedicated to the memory of Canadian Expeditionary Force members killed during the First World War. It also serves as the place of commemoration for Can…

France

The Maginot Line was an elaborate and technologically advanced series of fortifications built by France along its border with Germany and Italy in the aftermath of World War I. Named after André Maginot, the French Minis…

Italy

High above the Liri Valley, perched precariously yet defiantly on a prominent hill in Lazio, Italy, stands Monte Cassino Abbey – not merely a structure of stone, but a living testament to humanity's enduring spirit. This…

Serbia

The Studenica Monastery is a 12th-century Serbian Orthodox monastery situated 39 kilometres southwest of Kraljevo and 40.9 kilometres east of Ivanjica, in central Serbia. It is one of the largest and richest Serb Orthodo…

Türkiye

In 1228–29 Emir Ahmet Shah founded the Great Mosque and Hospital of Divriği. The highly sophisticated technique of vault construction, and a creative, exuberant type of decorative sculpture are the unique features of thi…

Ağrı, Türkiye

Ishak Pasha Palace, located in the east of Turkey, is one of the most outstanding examples of late Ottoman architecture. This stunning complex, completed in 1784, blends the elegance of Ottoman, Persian, and Seljuk style…

Gyeongsangbuk-do, South Korea

These bridges, consisting of eighteen steps, are divided into Yeonhwa, the Bridge of Lotus Flowers, and Chilbo, the Bridge of Seven Treasures. They are not just pathways but symbolic structures believed to connect the ea…

Gyeongsangnam-do, South Korea

It was first established in 802 AD by two monks, Suneung and Ijeong, who had returned from studies in Tang China. Legend states that King Aejang of Silla commissioned the temple in gratitude after the monks healed his wi…

Shaanxi, China

Famen Monastery is a renowned Buddhist temple located in Famen town, Fufeng County, approximately 120 kilometers west of Xi'an in Shaanxi province, China. Widely regarded as the "ancestor of pagoda temples in Guanzhong,"…

Belgium

The Church of Our Lady (Onze-Lieve-Vrouwekerk) in Bruges, Belgium, is a prominent religious and cultural landmark, renowned for its towering brick spire, significant art collection, and rich history spanning centuries. I…

Belgium

The Market Square is the central square of Bruges. It is located in the city centre. On the south side of the square is one of the city's most famous landmarks, the 13th-century Belfry. The Provincial Court is the former…

France

The Chantilly Castle is a historic French castle located in the town of Chantilly, about 50 kilometers north of Paris. The estate is comprised of two main buildings: the Petit Château, built around 1560 for Anne de Montm…

Oise, France

Beauvais Cathedral is a Catholic church in the northern town of Beauvais, Oise, France. It is the seat of the Bishop of Beauvais, Noyon and Senlis. The cathedral is in the High Gothic style, and consists of a 13th-centur…

Shaanxi, China

Yongning Gate, meaning "Gate of Eternal Peace," is the south gate of the ancient City Wall of Xi'an. It is the most ancient and frequently used gate, with a history that traces back to the Sui Dynasty (581-618 AD). Today…

Shanxi, China

Defying a millennium of decay, Foguang Monastery’s East Hall stands as a rare survivor—a time capsule of Tang Dynasty artistry from 857 AD. Its massive timber frame, ancient sculptures, fading murals, and original callig…

Fujian, China

Built in the Song Dynasty, it is the earliest surviving beam-type stone bridge across the sea in China.

Liaoning, China

The Mukden Palace, also known as the Shenyang Imperial Palace, is a significant historical site located in the center of Shenyang, Liaoning province, China. It served as the imperial palace of the early Qing dynasty befo…

Shaanxi, China

The Drum Tower of Xi'an, located in the heart of the city, is a significant landmark and a symbol of Xi'an. Erected in 1380 during the early Ming Dynasty under the reign of Emperor Hongwu (Zhu Yuanzhang), it stands as on…

Shaanxi, China

The Small Wild Goose Pagoda, also known as the Xiaoyan Pagoda, is a significant Buddhist pagoda located in Xi'an, Shaanxi, China. It stands within the grounds of the ancient Jianfu Temple. The pagoda was constructed betw…

Shaanxi, China

The Shaanxi History Museum, located in Xi'an, Shaanxi Province, China, is a prominent national museum that showcases the rich history of Shaanxi and ancient Chinese civilization. Situated to the northwest of the Giant Wi…

Germany

The German Corner, is a headland in Koblenz, Germany, where the Moselle river joins the Rhine. It is a significant landmark and a popular tourist attraction, drawing over 2 million visitors annually. Since 2002, it has b…

Germany

Founded around 764 by the family of the Franconian count Cancor, the economic rise of the abbey began with the transfer of the Nazarius relic from Rome to Lorsch Monastery in 765. In just a few decades, the ownership of…

Germany

The monastery was founded in 1147 and experienced rapid economic and political growth in the 12th century, but then hardship in the late 13th century and the 14th century. Prosperity returned in the 15th century and last…

France

Rodin's approach to the monument was a radical departure from the traditional heroic sculptures of the time. Instead of portraying the burghers as triumphant heroes, he chose to capture the moment of their departure, emp…

Italy

The Palazzo della Civiltà Italiana, also known as the Palazzo della Civiltà del Lavoro and colloquially as the Colosseo Quadrato ("Square Colosseum"), is a significant building in Rome's EUR district.

Italy

Villa Poppaea is an ancient and luxurious Roman seaside villa located in the modern town of Torre Annunziata, situated between Naples and Sorrento in Southern Italy. It is also referred to as Villa Oplontis or Oplontis V…

Germany

Mainz Cathedral, also known as St. Martin's Cathedral, is a Roman Catholic cathedral located in the heart of Mainz, Germany. For over a thousand years, this imposing structure has been a significant landmark and a center…

Germany

Worms Cathedral, officially the Cathedral of St. Peter, is a Roman Catholic church in Worms, Germany. It is a prime example of Romanesque architecture and is considered one of the three Rhenish imperial cathedrals, along…

Henan, China

Standing 55.08 meters tall and boasting 13 octagonal floors, Kaifeng Iron Pagoda is China's tallest, oldest, and best-preserved glazed brick pagoda. Because it is entirely constructed of brown glazed bricks, resembling c…

Gyeongsangbuk-do, South Korea

Cheomseongdae Observatory, meaning 'Nearer the Stars Palace,' this 7th-century structure is the oldest surviving astronomical observatory in East Asia, its unique bottle-like design, constructed from 362 granite blocks,…

Shandong, China

The origins of the Dai Temple trace back to the Qin Dynasty (221-206 BC). Its construction and design have been modeled after the imperial palace since the Han Dynasty (206 BC - 220 AD). The temple complex was significan…

Shandong, China

Baotu Spring, located in the heart of Jinan, the capital of Shandong Province, China, is a culturally and historically significant artesian karst spring. It is the most renowned of the more than 70 springs in Jinan, a ci…

Gyeongsangbuk-do, South Korea

Donggung Palace was once the secondary palace of the Crown Prince during the Silla Dynasty and served as a venue for grand banquets. The serene Wolji Pond offers a tranquil backdrop against which the majestic palace buil…

Shandong, China

he first mansion for the Kong family was constructed in 1038 during the Song dynasty. In 1377, under the orders of the first Ming emperor, the mansion was relocated and rebuilt. It underwent a significant expansion in 15…

Shanxi, China

This monastery defies a fundamental rule of Chinese imperial architecture. Instead of facing south, its main halls open to the east, honoring the rising sun, a sacred direction for the Khitan people who founded the Liao…

Shanxi, China

A humble hall, not a grand monument, it escaped the 9th-century imperial purges through sheer remoteness. Built in 782, its unassuming timber frame is now the oldest in China—a quiet, accidental time capsule preserving t…

Tennessee, United States

Sun Studio is a recording studio located at 706 Union Avenue in Memphis, Tennessee. It was opened by rock-and-roll pioneer Sam Phillips on January 3, 1950, and was originally called Memphis Recording Service.

Tennessee, United States

Located at 450 Mulberry Street in Memphis, Tennessee, the National Civil Rights Museum is a poignant and powerful tribute to the American civil rights movement. Built around the historic Lorraine Motel, where Martin Luth…

Oise, France

The Compiègne Castle is a French château, a former royal residence built for Louis XV and later restored by Napoleon. It was one of three seats of royal government, the others being Versailles and Fontainebleau.

Shandong, China

Perched atop the cliffs of Danya Mountain in Yantai, Shandong Province, Penglai Pavilion is a historic National 5A-level scenic spot and one of China’s Four Great Ancient Pavilions. Originally constructed in 1061 AD duri…

Shanxi, China

The pagoda was constructed in 1056 during the Liao Dynasty. It was built by Emperor Daozong of Liao at the site of his grandmother's family home. Another account states it was commissioned by Empress Dowager Xiao to prom…

Ningxia, China

The area occupied by the Western Xia tombs runs from south-west to north-east along the eastern edge of the Helan Mountains, and is about 12 km in length, and up to 2.5 km in width. The nine imperial mausoleums are array…

Shenyang, China

Commander Zhang's Mansion, also known as Marshal Zhang's Mansion, is a well-preserved historical site in Shenyang, Liaoning Province, China. It served as the official residence and private home of the warlord Zhang Zuoli…

Hunan, China

Yuelu Academy, situated on the east side of Yuelu Mountain in Changsha, Hunan province, is a renowned institution of higher learning with a history spanning over a thousand years. It stands as a testament to the developm…

Jiangxi, China

The original pavilion was constructed in 653 AD during the Tang Dynasty by Li Yuanying, the younger brother of Emperor Taizong. Li Yuanying was given the title "Prince Teng" and served as the governor of Nanchang, where…

Shanxi, China

The Wang Family Compound, also known as the Wang Family Grand Courtyard, is a vast and impressive residential complex located in Jingsheng Town, Lingshi County, Shanxi Province, China. It stands as the largest of the Sha…

Shanxi, China

This temple guards a profound contradiction: its spectacular Flying Rainbow Pagoda, a jewel of glazed tilework, miraculously withstood catastrophic earthquakes, a symbol of ultimate resilience. Yet, this survival was pai…

France

The Belfry of Arras is a prominent architectural landmark in the city of Arras, located in the Pas-de-Calais department of northern France. It stands in the Place des Héros, attached to the Town Hall. The construction of…

Serbia

The Sopoćani Monastery, an endowment of King Stefan Uroš I of Serbia, was built from 1259 to 1270, near the source of the Raška River in the region of Ras, the centre of the Serbian medieval state.

Serbia

Žiča Monastery is a prominent Serbian Orthodox monastery located near the city of Kraljevo in central Serbia. Dating back to the early 13th century, it stands as a crucial monument to Serbian culture, religion, and natio…

Serbia

The Kadinjača Memorial Complex is dedicated to the Partisan fighters of Workers' Battalion of Uzice who were killed on 29th November 1941 in the battles at Kadinjaca.

Bosnia & Herzegovina

Like many of the memorials constructed in Bosnia and Herzegovina during the 70's the monument is an angular abstraction constructed from bleak grey cement. However despite the tragic roots and brutalist construction, the…

Bosnia & Herzegovina

Šerefudin's White Mosque is located in the town of Visoko, Bosnia and Herzegovina. The original mosque on the site was built in 1477, but it was completely reconstructed in a modern style, with the new structure being co…

Serbia

The Avala Tower is a 204.68m tall telecommunications tower located on Mount Avala, in Belgrade, Serbia. The original tower was finished in 1965, but was destroyed on 29 April 1999, during the NATO bombing of Yugoslavia.…

İstanbul, Türkiye

The Serpent Column, a bronze monument dating to the 5th century BCE, is one of Istanbul’s most ancient surviving relics. Originally part of a sacrificial tripod erected at Delphi, Greece.

İzmir, Türkiye

This ancient healing center, dedicated to Asklepios, the Greek god of medicine, was renowned for its advanced therapeutic methods and architectural grandeur.

Türkiye

The Green Mosque, also known as the Mosque of Mehmed I, is a part of a larger complex on the east side of Bursa, Turkey. The Green Tomb is a mausoleum of the fifth Ottoman Sultan, Mehmed I.

Çorum, Türkiye

The Sphinx Gate was built in the 14th century BCE. It was the south entrance of the city and was fortified with towers. It was flanked by sphinx protomes sculpted in monolith stone. The sphinxes were the protectors of th…

Shandong, China

Established in 2003 at the original 1903 brewery site, the Tsingtao Brewery Museum is China’s premier destination for beer culture. This National AAAA attraction, housed in a historic German-built complex, features three…

Germany

The construction of the Imperial Baths began in the late 3rd or early 4th century AD, during the reign of Constantine the Great. Trier, then known as Augusta Treverorum, was an important imperial residence and was often…

Germany

The Roman Amphitheater in Trier, Germany, is a significant historical site dating back to the 2nd century AD. It is part of the "Roman Monuments, Cathedral of St. Peter and Church of Our Lady in Trier" UNESCO World Herit…

Location unavailable

The foundation stone for Schloss Drachenburg was laid in 1882 by Baron Stephan von Sarter, a broker and banker who had amassed a fortune through stock market speculation and financing the Suez Canal. Although he commissi…

Fujian, China

Founded in the Song Dynasty, it is the oldest mosque in China, with a history of more than 1,000 years.

Shaanxi, China

The Sima Qian Memorial Hall, also known as the Sima Qian Temple and Tomb, is a significant cultural site in China dedicated to the renowned historian of the Western Han Dynasty. The memorial is situated on a high mound o…

Henan, China

The great observatory was built in 1276 during the early Yuan dynasty under the orders of Kublai Khan. It was designed by astronomers Guo Shoujing and Wang Xun to observe the sun and stars and to record time. The observa…

Shandong, China

The Mencius Temple, also known as the Temple of the Second Sage, is located in Zoucheng City, Jining City, Shandong Province. It is a place of worship for Mencius, the philosopher of the Warring States period, throughout…

Hong Kong SAR China

九龙城寨作为著名的自发性建构筑物，在没有专门的建筑规划师运筹帷幄的情况下依旧顽强地维持着自身的存在，虽然被不少当局者视为毒瘤，但也某种程度上见证了香港回归前的底层华人的发展史

Luxembourg

The earliest historical records of a castle in Schengen date to 1390. This original structure was a fortified, moated castle. For over four centuries, this medieval fortress stood until it was acquired by the industriali…

Herzegovina-Neretva Canton, Bosnia & Herzegovina

Počitelj Fortress, a historic fortified town in Bosnia and Herzegovina, stands as a testament to medieval and Ottoman architecture. Perched on a rocky cliff on the left bank of the Neretva River, it is considered an open…

Hebei, China

Longxing Monastery, also known as the "Big Buddha Monastery," is an ancient Buddhist monastery located in Zhengding County, Hebei Province, China. The monastery was first established in 586 AD during the Sui Dynasty, ori…