In 2001, the organization called the New 7 Wonders Foundation (N7W) decided to organize a popularity poll to replace the old Seven Wonders with new ones. The matter is that 6 of 7 wonders have been destroyed or are in a ruinous state. The seven wonders of the ancient world were the Hanging Garden of Babylon, the Statue of Zeus at Olympia, the temple of Artemis at Ephesus, the Mausoleum at Halicarnassus, the Colossus of Rhodes, the Lighthouse of Alexandria, and the only surviving wonder, the Great Pyramid of Giza, Egypt.
Initially, the number of candidates was 77; by 2006, the number was narrowed to 21. The wonders which didn’t make it to the winners’ list were Stonehenge (UK), Acropolis of Athens (Greece), Hagia Sophia (Turkey), Angkor Wat (Cambodia), Moai Statues (Easter Island, Chile — it is said to have taken the 8th place), Timbuktu (Mali), Alhambra (Spain), Kremlin and Red Square (Russia), Kiyomizu-Dera (Japan), Neuschwanstein (Germany), Statue of Liberty (US), Eiffel Tower (France), and Sydney Opera House (Australia).
So, the following wonders have become winners (with the Giza Pyramids receiving honorary status): the Great Wall of China, Petra (Jordan), the Colosseum (Italy), Chichén Itzá (Mexico), Machu Picchu (Peru), the Taj Mahal (India), and Christ the Redeemer (Brazil). Let’s look at each of the winners closely—maybe you will want to add some of them to your bucket list.
Great Wall of China
The only landmark on the list that doesn’t have a specific location, the Great Wall spans over 15 provinces and 404 counties of the People’s Republic of China. Parts of the wall can be found throughout Liaoning, Jilin, Heilongjiang, Hebei, Beijing, Tianjin, Shanxi, Inner Mongolia, Shaanxi, Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, Gansu, Xinjiang, Shandong, Henan and Qinghai provinces.
This construction, the longest wall in the world, is, in fact, a series of fortifications made of various materials over multiple dynasties, beginning with the 7th century BC and continuing until 206 BC. The Great Wall was built in order to defend the Chinese states and empires against nomads’ raids and invasions, and it was a means of border control designed to impose duties on goods transported via the Silk Road.
Through the ages, the wall was continuously rebuilt, so only a few parts remain intact, and few of its parts remain to this very day. The wall is equipped with multiple watch towers and military premises and served not only as a defensive structure but also as a transportation corridor. How long is the longest wall in the world? The entire length of the wall is measured out to be 21,196 km (13,171 mi), with 6,259 km (3,889 mi) of actual wall, 359 km (223 mi) of trenches, and 2,232 km (1,387 mi) of natural defensive barriers.
Petra
Ma’an Governorate, Jordan
Petra, originally known as Raqmu, is an archaeological city in the south of Jordan. It is famous for its architecture, which was caved out of solid rocks, and has a water conduit system that was innovative for those times. The color of the rocks Petra is made of gives it another name, Rose City.
The year of establishment is estimated at the year 312 BC, when the area was populated with nomadic tribes of Arab Nabataeans. Petra was built next to major trade routes with the intention of making it a trading hub and bringing wealth to its creators.
The site remained unknown to Westerners until 1812, when it was discovered by a Swiss explorer, Johann Ludwig Burckhardt. Since 1985, Petra has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is described by UNESCO as «one of the most precious cultural properties.»
Colosseum / Coliseum / the Flavian Amphitheatre
Rome, Italy
The largest amphitheater in the world, in the center of the eternal city of Rome, is also the largest tourist magnet, compared even with the rest of the wonders on this list, with over 100,000 tourists coming to see it every year. Colosseum’s construction began under the rule of the emperor Vespasian in AD 72 and ended eight years later under the emperor Titus.
Some modifications were introduced in 81-96, during the reign of Domitian. These three emperors had the family name Flavius, so the amphitheater was named in their honor. The capacity of the Colosseum amazes even today: it could hold up to 80,000 spectators.
The arena was used not only for gladiatorial contests but also for mock sea battles (for which the floor was flooded with water), re-enactments of famous battles, animal hunts, and even classical dramas. In early medieval times, the amphitheater stopped being used as an entertainment site. Instead, through the following centuries, it was reused as a housing site, a workshop, a religious order’s quarters, a fortress, a Christian shrine, and even as a quarry.
Chichén Itzá, El Castillo / Temple of Kukulcan
Yucatán, Mexico
The most important construction of Chichén Itzá, known in Mexico as El Castillo (The Palace), is a monument dating back to the pre-Columbian Maya civilization that existed between the 9th and 12th centuries AD. This 24-metre (79-ft) step-pyramid was used as a temple to Kukulcan, a feathered serpent deity worshipped by the Yucatec Maya.
Four stairways lead to the temple set on the top, 91 steps from each side. Counted together, including the temple platform, the number of steps equals 365, which is the number of days according to the Maya calendar. During the spring and autumn equinoxes, visitors have an opportunity to observe a spectacular event. In the afternoon, the sun striking the pyramid’s corner casts triangular shadows that create the illusion of a feathered serpent crawling the pyramid.
Machu Picchu
Cusco Region, Urubamba Province, Peru
This wonder is an Inca citadel built in the 15th century on a mountain ridge that is part of the Andes; its height is 2,430 meters (7,970 ft) above sea level. The majority of archaeologists today believe that Machu Picchu is an estate built for the Inca emperor called Pachacuti. It was abandoned when the Spaniards invaded Peru and remained unknown to them during the whole colonial period.
Before 1911, this icon of Inca civilization was unknown to the world. The American historian Hiram Bingham discovered the site and acquainted society with the new wonder. The landmarks of Machu Picchu are the Temple of the Sun, Inti Watana (Intihuatana) — a ritual stone associated with the astronomic clock or an ancient Inca calendar, and the Room of the Three Windows.
After discovery, the site began to be restored, with 30% complete by 1976. The works are still maintained today. In 1981, Machu Picchu was declared a Peruvian historical sanctuary, and in 1983, it became a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Taj Mahal
Agra and Uttar Pradesh, India
The white marble mausoleum, known in the world as the symbol of eternal love, is situated on the bank of the Yamuna River in the city of Agra. The history of the palace dates back to 1632 when it was ordered by the Mughal emperor named Shah Jahan as a tomb for his diseased wife Arjumand, also known as Mumtaz Mahal (translated from Persian as «first lady of the palace»).
The tomb is located in the center of the 42-acre complex, which also includes a mosque and a guest house. The territory is covered with a splendid garden bordered by three crenelated walls. The construction of the mausoleum was completed in 1643, while other parts of the complex were being constructed until 1653.
The long, tiring process involved 20,000 artisans led by the court emperor. In 1983, the Taj Mahal was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site as «the jewel of Muslim art in India.» Annually, the number of visitors drawn to this wonder equals over 8 million.
Christ the Redeemer / Cristo Redentor
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
The newest wonder of the seven, this magnificent statue was built in 1931 by a Brazilian engineer, Heitor da Silva Costa, together with a French engineer, Albert Caquot. The idea was created by a Polish/French sculptor, Paul Landowski, and the face was made by a Romanian artist, Gheorghe Leonida. The height of Christ is just 30 metres (98 ft), but together with the 8-m (26 ft) pedestal and 700 metres of Corcovado Mountain overlooking the city, the statue amazes with its grandeur.
The statue, weighing 635 metric tons and made of reinforced concrete and soapstone, stands proudly in the Tijuca Forest National Park next to Rio de Janeiro. Since its creation, Christ the Redeemer has become a cultural icon of the city, and an important symbol of Christianity recognized throughout the world.
The New 7 Wonders of the World serve as a testament to human creativity, resilience, and the enduring legacy of our cultural heritage. These remarkable sites, chosen through a global poll, highlight the diversity of architectural and artistic achievements across civilizations and eras.
From the ancient ruins of Chichen Itza to the breathtaking beauty of the Taj Mahal, each wonder tells a unique story that connects us to our past and inspires future generations. Wherever you decide to go, hotelin.com helps you find accommodation close to any landmark. The abundance of filters and price options makes the search fast and easy: go ahead and try it yourself.
As we celebrate these extraordinary landmarks, we must recognize the importance of preserving them for posterity, ensuring they continue to captivate and educate people worldwide. Ultimately, the New 7 Wonders remind us of our shared history and the incredible feats we can accomplish when we come together to appreciate and protect our world’s cultural treasures.
