Nine famous landmarks

From the ancient to the ultra-modern, architecture and design are among the most defining elements of a city. We round up nine easily recognisable landmarks, in no particular order.

Colosseum

Rome, Italy

Built in the 1st century as an amphitheatre for gladiator combat and wild-animal fights, the Colosseum is one of Rome’s most recognisable structures. Up to 55,000 spectators could witness the bloody battles. It’s the largest amphitheatre in the world.

Louvre Museum

Paris, France

The Louvre is probably more famous for its prized artworks than its architecture, but the central Paris museum blends the ornate design of the Louvre Palace (originally built in the 12th century) with a modern glass pyramid at its entrance (added in 1989).

Sagrada Família

Barcelona, Spain

This stunning church, designed by the famously quirky Antoni Gaudí, has been under construction for more than 130 years. The architect died in 1926, but his original ideas for the gothic structure are still followed, albeit with different construction techniques. It’s due to be completed in 2026.

Chrysler Building

New York City, United States

A fine example of art-deco architecture, the Chrysler Building was, for a time in 1930 and 1931, the world’s tallest building, at 319 metres. It was designed and built for Chrysler and remained the car-manufacturing company’s headquarters until the 1950s. It was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1976.

Petronas Twin Towers

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

A symbol of Malaysia’s forward-thinking ambition, Petronas Twin Towers is 451.9 metres, or 88 storeys, high. Opened in 1996, one tower is fully occupied by the Malaysian petrol company Petronas, while the other is home to companies from technology, media, aviation and modelling.

St Paul’s Cathedral

London, England

Designed by Britain’s most famous architect, Sir Christopher Wren, St Paul’s was built between 1675 and 1710, though a cathedral has stood at the site for more than 1,400 years. The 111.3-metre dome is one of the largest cathedral domes in the world.

Pyramids

Cairo, Egypt

An icon of the ancient world, the pyramids of Giza are among the Seven Wonders. Egypt is home to over 100 pyramids, many of which are at least 4,000 years old. They were built as tombs for pharaohs, who were laid to rest with treasures for their next life.

St Basil’s Cathedral

Moscow, Russia

This stunning building in Moscow’s famous Red Square has been part of a Unesco World Heritage Site since 1990. Now a museum, it was built between 1551 and 1561 under Ivan the Terrible and is the city’s best-known tourist attraction.

Parthenon

Athens, Greece

Another symbol of the ancient world, the Parthenon temple sits at the centre of the Acropolis, high over the Greek capital. Dating back to the 5th century BC, the Acropolis became a Unesco World Heritage Site in 2007 and is currently undergoing restoration.