1.The Pyramid at Chichén Itzá (before 800 A.D.) Mexico
Chichén Itzá, the
most famous Mayan temple city, served as the political and economic center of the Mayan civilization. Its various structures - the
pyramid of Kukulkan, the
Temple of Chac Mool, the
Hall of the Thousand Pillars, and
the Playing Field of the Prisoners – can still be seen today and are demonstrative of an
extraordinary commitment to architectural space and composition. The pyramid itself was the last, and arguably
the greatest, of all Mayan temples.
2. Christ Redeemer (1931) Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
This
statue of Jesus stands some 38 meters tall, atop the Corcovado mountain overlooking Rio de Janeiro. Designed by Brazilian Heitor da Silva Costa and created by French sculptor Paul Landowski, it is one of the world’s best-known monuments. The statue took five years to construct and was inaugurated on October 12, 1931. It has become a
symbol of the city and of
the warmth of the Brazilian people, who receive visitors with open arms.
3. The Roman Colosseum (70 - 82 A.D.) Rome, Italy
This great
amphitheater in the centre of Rome was built to give favors to successful legionnaires and to
celebrate the glory of the Roman Empire. Its design concept still stands to this very day, and virtually every modern sports stadium some 2,000 years later still bears the
irresistible imprint of the Colosseum's original design. Today, through films and history books, we are even more aware of the cruel fights and games that took place in this arena, all for the joy of the spectators.
4. The Great Wall of China (220 B.C and 1368 - 1644 A.D.) China
The Great Wall of China was built to link existing fortifications into a
united defense system and better keep invading Mongol tribes out of China. It is the
largest man-made monument ever to have been built and it is disputed that it is the
only one visible from space. Many thousands of people must have given their lives to build this colossal construction.
5. Machu Picchu (1460-1470), Peru
In the 15th century, the Incan Emperor Pachacútec built a city in the clouds on the mountain known as Machu Picchu ("
old mountain"). This
extraordinary settlement lies halfway up the Andes Plateau,
deep in the Amazon jungle and above the Urubamba River. It was probably abandoned by the Incas because of a smallpox outbreak and, after the Spanish defeated the Incan Empire, the city remained 'lost' for over three centuries. It was
rediscovered by Hiram Bingham in 1911.
6. Petra (9 B.C. - 40 A.D.), Jordan 
On the edge of the Arabian Desert, Petra was the
glittering capital of the Nabataean empire of King Aretas IV (9 B.C. to 40 A.D.). Masters of water technology, the Nabataeans provided their city with great tunnel constructions and water chambers. A theater, modelled on Greek-Roman prototypes, had space for an audience of 4,000. Today,
the Palace Tombs of Petra, with the 42-meter-high Hellenistic temple facade on the El-Deir Monastery, are
impressive examples of Middle Eastern culture.
7. The Taj Mahal (1630 A.D.) Agra, India 
This immense mausoleum was built on the orders of
Shah Jahan, the fifth Muslim Mogul emperor,
to honor the memory of
his beloved late wife. Built out of white marble and standing in formally laid-out walled gardens, the Taj Mahal is regarded as
the most perfect jewel of Muslim art in India. The emperor was consequently jailed and, it is said, could then only see the Taj Mahal out of his small cell window.
***The New 7 Wonders of the World were announced during the Official Declaration ceremony in Lisbon, Portugal on Saturday, July 7, 2007 - 07.07.07.
