Since 2007 there are 7 new Wonders of the modern World chosen in a global survey by more than 90 million people. Diverse were the cities and monuments of all the continents that participated such as the Sydney Opera House, the Statue of Liberty, the Eiffel Tower or the Alhambra in Granada. However, only seven managed to win and we will discover them below.
Petra
Located in the desert of southwestern Jordan, the famous city of Petra was founded around 312 BC as the capital of the Nabataean kingdom. In ancient times, it had great relevance when connecting the Silk Road and the Spice Route but the passing of the centuries made it fall into oblivion until in the XNUMXth century it was discovered by Jean Louis Burckhard. Today, it is a famous archaeological site that has become one of Jordan's main tourist attractions and a symbol.
Petra can only be accessed through a narrow canyon called Al Siq, a route that culminates in views of El Tesoro, a 45-meter-high temple with an ornate Hellenistic-style façade. Other very visited places in Petra are the street of the Facades (a walk flanked by large tombs carved out of stone), the Monastery, the Sanctuary, the Theater or the Altar of Sacrifice (one of the spaces from where you can best admire the views ).
The best time to see this wonder of the modern world is spring and autumn. In summer the weather is very hot but since it is the low season, the prices are cheaper.
Taj Mahal
Located in the state of Uttar Pradesh, one of the most interesting cities to see in India is Agra and its great icon is the Taj Mahal, which is also part of the list of the 7 wonders of the modern world.
Although a romantic story is planned over this monument, it is a funerary monument that Emperor Shah Jahan ordered erected in the XNUMXth century in honor of the favorite wife Mumtaz Mahal. From the Taj Mahal we are used to seeing the image of the mausoleum with the white marble dome, but the enclosure occupies 17 hectares and includes a mosque, a guest house and gardens.
The best time to visit the Taj Mahal is from October to March because in this period the temperatures are not so high in the region since in summer they are scorching.
Machu Picchu
Located 112 kilometers northwest of Cuzco, in the province of Urubamba, Machu Picchu an Inca city surrounded by water channels, temples and platforms whose name means old mountain and takes it from the location in which it is located.
The architectural complex is believed to have been built in the 1911th century by the Inca Pachacutec. Machu Picchu was discovered in XNUMX thanks to the researcher Hiram Bingham III who was looking for the last capital of the Incas Vilcabamba.
In its time it was an important administrative, religious and political center. Today its ruins are considered as Cultural Heritage of Humanity by Unesco and as one of the 7 wonders of the modern world. It can be visited throughout the year, although the best time is between April and October, which is the dry season.
Chichén Itzá
In the Yucatan peninsula is Chichen Itza, an ancient Mayan city that is considered one of the 7 wonders of the modern world. Towards the 50th century AD it experienced its most splendid period, which is reflected in the buildings that make up the archaeological site since it stood out as an important political and economic center around which approximately XNUMX thousand people lived. After centuries of sovereignty, droughts caused the end of this pre-Columbian culture and led to its disappearance.
Structures such as the ball court, the Temple of the Warriors, the Castle and the famous stepped pyramid of Kukulkán, among other monuments, are in such a good state of conservation that visiting Chichén Itzá is like taking a trip back in time.
The best time to visit Cancun is from December to April. The months of September and October should be avoided because there are hurricanes.
The Colisseum
The Colosseum is a symbol of the eternity of Rome. An imposing amphitheater that the Emperor Vespasian ordered to be built in AD 72 and which was the site of the bloodiest spectacles so popular at the time: fights between wild animals, prisoners devoured by beasts, gladiatorial fights ... even a naumachia! !, that is to say, a naval battle for which the Colosseum had to be flooded.
The Colosseum was active for more than 500 years until the last games in history were held in the XNUMXth century. Along with the Vatican, it is the biggest tourist attraction in Rome today. Every year 6 million people visit it and in 2007 it was included in the list of the 7 wonders of the modern world.
It is advisable to visit Rome in spring or autumn, when temperatures are mild and extreme heat or heavy rains are avoided.
The Chinese Wall
Beijing, the capital of China, has a long history that translates into a great variety of tourist sites to visit. However, the most popular of them all and the one that is considered one of the 7 wonders of the modern world is the iconic Chinese Wall.
It is a series of brick, earth, stone and rammed wood fortifications that spanning 21.196 kilometers across the northern borders of China to protect the country from attacks by nomadic groups from Mongolia and Manchuria. It was built between the XNUMXth century BC. C and XVI.
The end of spring (April-May) and the beginning of autumn (September-October) is the best time to visit Beijing and see the Great Wall of China.
Christ of Corcovado
The colossal 30-meter tall statue of Christ the Redeemer is considered one of the 7 wonders of the modern world. One of the main objectives of any tourist visiting Rio de Janeiro is to admire from its pedestal the views of the main beaches of the city such as Botafogo, Ipanema and Copacabana, the best known of all.
Inaugurated in 1931, this work was born from the hands of the Brazilian engineer Heitor da Silva Costa and the French-Polish sculptor Paul Landowski who had the help of the French engineer Albert Caquot and the Romanian artist Gheorge Leonida, who designed the face of Christ.
The tropical climate of Rio de Janeiro means that this city can be visited at any time of the year.