The seven wonders of the ancient world are clearly documented and most no longer exist. A few years ago, the National Geographic named the new seven worldly wonders, which include the Christ the Redeemer Statue in Rio de Janeiro, the Taj Mahal in India, the Great Wall of China, Machu Picchu in Peru, Chichen Itza, Mexico, the Colosseum, Rome and Petra in Jordan.
Which iconic sights make up your own seven wonders of the world? Would you include the following?
Angel of the North, Gateshead
Anthony Gormley’s northern angel stands 20 meters high close to the A1 at Gateshead. Its brown wings spread wide – some 54 metres – and it is an imposing sight as you drive past. It’s made from 200 tons of steel with copper and 700 tons of concrete below the ground’s surface hold it in place.
The iconic Eiffel Tower
Paris is as much about the Eiffel Tower as it is about the River Seine though this wasn’t always the case. It was erected in 1889 as temporary structure for the Exposition Universelle aka the World Fair. The tower was so popular that it was never taken down and now its criss-cross metal structure is a must-see for Paris visitors. It is 320m high and lifts take visitors to three levels to look out over the city and beyond.
The Statue of Liberty
This lady was a present from the people of France to America almost 130 years ago, in recognition of the friendship built between the two countries during the American Revolution. She now symbolises freedom and democracy as well.
For over a hundred years, she has been the welcoming sight as ships arrive in New York Harbour and the first thing that thousands of immigrants saw. Visitors can climb to the crown of Liberty, the Roman goddess, who is made from copper and stands 46 metres tall.
Table Mountain, South Africa
Cape Town’s Table Mountain is a much talked about attraction. Its flat top is what makes it such a feature. If you’re feeling energetic you can climb to the top, but take the cable car for the easy route – the views are magnificent. Don’t forget your sun screen and something warm as weather conditions can change quickly up there.
Sydney Opera House
See it from Sydney Harbour Bridge for great photos or take the tour to see some of its 1,000 rooms and 300 corridors. Marvel at the artists who’ve performed there such as Pavarotti and Coldplay … or catch a Puccini opera or even Josh Grogan this year! With more than 3,000 events taking place annually, there’ll be something you’ll want to see.
There are so many glorious natural and built wonders in our world. Even if these aren’t your choice, let BeattheBrochure take you to see some new ones this year.