If you walk down the historical memory lane, you will witness how rich the time was. The culture that we live in the present day is much different from what our ancestors experienced. Architects designed numerous monuments and structures to ensure that such a rich history can be recorded for the coming generations to see. These monuments are unique, with no other replica. They aren’t merely a beautiful treat to the eyes; they also harbour a great deal of historical and cultural significance. Be it the Sydney Opera House or the famous Bernini’s Obelisk Pyramid, every monument has a meaning and tells a particular story. Despite more than a hundred monuments, only a handful of them stand out. These are irreplaceable and will never lose their serenity and charm.
Why are monuments considered to be so important?
It doesn’t matter whether you consider it a historic monument or a cultural structure. These monuments have several benefits. Some of these perks have been listed below:
- Monuments represent important events or milestones that help people understand what they represent and how they were constructed.
- Some monuments also signify the intricate structural details that reveal how excellent and flawless the architects during those times were.
iii. Ruins like the Colosseum or Petra are sometimes considered monuments, as they once marked essential turning points in history.
- Inscribed monuments help research workers and historians to learn more about the past and how the ancient civilisations were.
- A few monuments are constructed to honour a prevalent culture, like the Sydney Opera House delineating operas’ popularity in Australia.
Top Monuments in the World to Visit
Kremlin
Kremlin is a bounded Russian settlement with an adjacent Kremlin wall, four Cathedral churches, five beautifully constructed palaces, and several Kremlin towers once used as watchtowers. This place is the seat of the Russian defence system in modern times. Its walls are so strong that it is often considered to be unbreakable. Troitskaya is the highest Kremlin tower, standing at 260 feet. The Cathedral of Dormition is significant because all the Tsar rulers were crowned here. On the contrary, the Cathedral of Archangel Michael is said to be the epitome of classic Russian architecture.
St. Peter’s Square
Located right at the heart of the Vatican City, St. Peter’s Square sits atop the basilica where the pope’s tomb is present. It is one of the most significant constructions in Rome, with a capacity to accommodate over 3 million people at a time. There are about 284 columns, above which sits a high ceiling wall. On top of the church is a collection of 140 statues of saints, constructed by none other than Bernini. At the centre is a long obelisk that was once present in Egypt. On top of this obelisk is a sculpture of a dove – an angel in Roman books.
Sydney Opera House
The Sydney Opera House represents the excellence of modern architecture and innovative sculpture. It is built on water, right at the peninsular tip that opens up to the Sydney harbour. Its main attraction is the curved, dome-shaped roofs that open up in a folded, conical manner at the sides, overlooking the water body. There are two theatres inside where several entertainment events take place. The Sydney Opera House is a UNESCO-protected site, and its engineering and architectural plans need to be preserved at any cost.
Qutub Minar
One of the most famous global monuments, Qutub Minar, is located in the national capital of India, Delhi. Its construction began during the reign of Qutb-ud-din-Aibak, and after his death, Firux Shah Tughlaq completed the minaret. It has an overall height of approximately 72 metres and is made from burnt clay and fiery red bricks, making it the tallest brick minaret in the world. Inside the tower is a spiral staircase having about 379 steps.
Sphinx
Another outstanding monument that you shouldn’t miss is the Great Sphinx pyramid in Giza. As per Egyptian mythology, the Sphinx is considered a mystical being, with a head of a lion and a body representing the humans. From a distance, it looks as if the construction workers accurately placed the rock slabs one above the other to form the shape. However, it was cut down from a massive chunk of limestone on the Giza plateau. As there is no recorded evidence about the construction of the Sphinx, it can be challenging to understand what it looked like in the past.
Colosseum
Rome is the seat of several historical structures, out of which the Colosseum seems to hold maximum importance. During the Roman civilisation, the Colosseum was used as a theatre, where events like annual dances, bullfighting, javelin throws, and other games were held. It has been constructed using volcanic rock, travertine limestone, and brick-styled concrete blocks, due to which the structure gets its unique appearance and charm.
Conclusion
Apart from the monuments we have discussed here, several others exist across the globe, well-renowned for their thoughtful construction, the resemblance with the historic culture and art, and the inscriptions and designs that won’t come into practice once again. Each monument, starting from the Sphinx to the Sydney Opera House, carries many unspoken tales, making them more enigmatic and charming. Besides, the type of art and designs used to construct the structures are so unique that copying them and making replicas is nearly impossible.