Introduction
There’s no shortage of incredible places to visit in the world. But there are some especially historic places that stand out from the rest. Here are six of my favorite historical sites and why they’re so important.
Machu Picchu
Machu Picchu is a 15th-century Inca site located in the Cusco region of Peru. It was built as an estate for the Inca emperor Pachacuti, who reigned from 1438 to 1472. The city was built in a remote location to protect it from Spanish invaders and other enemies.
Machu Picchu is one of the most famous archaeological sites in all of South America, attracting thousands of visitors each year.
Colosseum
The Colosseum is an elliptical amphitheater in the center of the city of Rome, Italy. Built in 70 AD, it is considered one of the greatest works of Roman architecture and engineering. The Colosseum could hold between 50,000 and 80,000 spectators; tradition holds that 9 million people saw the shows that occurred there during its four centuries as a functioning arena.
The Colosseum was used for gladiator contests and public spectacles such as animal hunts (venationes), executions, re-enactments of famous battles, dramas based on Classical mythology and ancient fiction; it also housed competitions involving hundreds or even thousands of combatants at once–as well as animal hunts–and was capable of being flooded under 23 feet (7 m) of water for mock naval battles or nautical games called naumachiae
Sacsayhuaman
Sacsayhuaman is a fortress located in Cusco, Peru. It was built by the Inca civilization and was used to protect the city from invaders. The site consists of large, carved stones that make up its walls and towers. It’s considered one of the most important archaeological sites in South America and is one of UNESCO’s World Heritage Sites.
Parthenon
The Parthenon is a temple on the Acropolis in Athens, Greece. It was dedicated to the goddess Athena, whom the people of Athens considered their patron. Construction began around 447 BC and was completed in 432 BC; it took 10 years for workers to build it using marble from nearby Mt Pentelikon as well as other stones from across Greece.
The temple’s architecture reflects many elements from ancient Greek culture including Doric columns and friezes, which depict myths about gods fighting monsters or each other (this particular type of sculpture can be seen throughout ancient Greece). The building stands on top of an older structure called Older Parthenon (also known as Pre-Parthenon) that was built during 5th century BC but destroyed by an earthquake some time after 475 BC
Great Wall of China
The Great Wall of China is a series of fortifications made of stone, brick, tamped earth, wood and other materials. It was built to protect the northern borders of the Chinese Empire from Xiongnu attacks. The wall stretches for at least 8,850 kilometers (5,500 miles) from Shanhaiguan in Hebei province on the Bohai Gulf to Lop Nur in Xinjiang province.
Chichen Itza
Chichen Itza is a large pre-Columbian city built by the Mayans between the 6th and 10th centuries. The site is located in the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico, about 90 minutes from Cancun International Airport. Chichen Itza is one of the most important archaeological sites in Mexico and most popular tourist attraction in the Yucatan Peninsula.
Chichen Itza was an important religious center for several different cultures over its history: it was originally founded by a group called “Okanchanes” (or “Olmecs”), who built several pyramids on top of existing structures left behind by an earlier civilization around 1000 BC; these early inhabitants left behind stelae (carved stone monuments) with inscriptions that speak about their culture and beliefs; when these people were later conquered by another group called Toltecs (around 900 AD), they added new buildings like temples dedicated to different gods like Quetzalcoatl or Tlaloc as well as residential houses for commoners
Pyramids of Giza
The Pyramids of Giza are a group of three monumental pyramids located in the Giza Necropolis in Egypt. They are built on the west bank of the Nile River, north of the city of Cairo. The largest and oldest is known as the Great Pyramid or Pyramid of Khufu (Cheops), which has been estimated to originally have been about 480 metres high when first constructed by Pharaoh Khufu around 2560 BCE.
The other two pyramids are known as the “Pyramid of Khafre” and “Pyramid of Menkaure”. All three were built during the Fourth Dynasty (c. 2613-2494 BCE). The Great Sphinx lies on its east side, facing east toward Heliopolis (the City of On).
Stonehenge
You may have heard of Stonehenge and its mysterious stones, but there’s a whole lot more to this site than just the iconic circle. The area surrounding Stonehenge was once home to dozens of smaller stone circles, as well as burial mounds and other sites like water-filled ditches called cursus monuments that were used for ritual processes by prehistoric people living in the area during their Neolithic period (c. 4000 – 2000 BC).
Stonehenge itself is believed to have been constructed from 3000 BC to 2000 BC by migrating Celts with knowledge of astronomy who wanted to worship their gods through celestial observation. Today it’s one of Britain’s top tourist attractions and still attracts thousands every year who come here just so they can see firsthand what kind of impact these ancient people had on our world today!
These ancient sites will keep you busy!
These ancient sites will keep you busy!
Machu Picchu, Peru: Built in the 15th century and hidden from the world until 1911, this Inca citadel is one of South America’s most famous landmarks.
Colosseum, Italy: The Roman Colosseum was once home to gladiator battles and public executions; today it’s a top tourist attraction in Italy’s capital city.
Sacsayhuaman Fortress, Peru: This massive stone structure was built by the Incas around 1450 CE as part of their defenses against Spanish invaders during colonial rule. It sits atop an enormous rock outcropping overlooking Cuzco City (which itself sits at 11,000 feet above sea level).
Parthenon Temple Complex (Acropolis), Greece: Once known as “Athens on High,” this site contains temples dedicated to Athena Pronoia (“Forethought”), Poseidon Erechtheus (“Earthshaker”), Zeus Agoraios (“Protecting Assembly”) — plus many more gods!
Conclusion
We hope that you enjoyed this list of the world’s most amazing historical sites. Remember, if you want to see them all, it will take a lot of time and money!
