Friday, May 21, 2010

Neuschwanstein Castle Schwangau - Germany


Neuschwanstein Castle was built in a time when castles and fortresses were no longer strategically necessary. Instead, it was born of pure fantasy – a beautiful, romantic composition of towers and walls in the perfect setting of mountains and lakes. The combination of various architectural styles and intrinsic craftwork has inspired generations of adults and children alike.

Statues of Easter Island - Chile


Discovered on Easter Sunday, 1722 by Dutch explorer Jakob Roggeveen, this collection of 25 meter-high stone sculptures still puzzles historians and archaeologists as to its origins. It is believed that a society of Polynesian origin settled here in the 4th century and established a unique tradition of monumental sculpture. Between the 10th and 16th centuries, they erected the enormous stone figures, known as the Moai, which have long fascinated the entire world and endowed this island with a mythical atmosphere.

Sydney Opera House - Australia


When the Sydney Opera House was finished in 1973, this landmark building - in the true sense of the expression, - put the whole continent of Australia on the world map. This building does not imitate or reflect what we generally imagine an opera house might look like, indeed, it is a completely abstract interpretation. The ability to create abstract art only developed after the invention of photography in the late 19th century, when painters first began to experiment with an abstract, cubist interpretation of reality.

Thursday, May 20, 2010

The Pyramids of Giza - Egypt


The Pyramids of Giza, the oldest and only Ancient Wonder still standing, are testimony to perfection in art and design, never subsequently achieved. They were built by planners and engineers purely to serve their earthy rulers - who were also their gods. Philosophy did not exist at this time, and creation was not subject to any questioning. The pyramids are the purest of constructions, built for eternity.

Angkor Cambodia


Angkor is the most important monument of the south-east Asian Khmer Empire and the world’s largest sacred temple. Built during the reign of King Suryavaman, at the beginning of the 12th century, Angkor is noted for its intricate ornamentation and striking beauty. With its water moats, concentric walls and magnificent temple mountain in the center, Angkor Wat symbolizes the Hindu cosmos, with its oceans at the periphery and the Meru mountain at the center of its universe.

The Eiffel Tower - Paris, France


The creation of Gustave Eiffel, this magnificent steel tower has come to serve as a symbol of Paris, as well as of France itself. The structure is not only a landmark that is recognized all over the world, but is perhaps the most popular architectural achievement in the Western world. It was the tallest man-made structure in the world until the Empire State Building was constructed. The tower is visited by six million people every year.

Wednesday, May 19, 2010

Christ The Redeemer - Brazil


One of the largest countries in the world and the largest country in South America is Brazil. One of its major tourist attraction and one of the most famous architectural landmarks in the world, especially among Christians is the statue of Christ the Redeemer. It is a statue of Jesus Christ in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil's former capital. This famous statue stands 38 meters (120 ft) tall weighs 700 short tons (635 tons), and is located at the peak of the 700 meters (2,300 ft) Concovado Mountain in the Tijauca Forest National Park overlooking the city. It is the tallest of its kind in the world. A symbol of Christianity, the statue has become an icon of Rio de Janeiro and Brazil.