The Kilkenny Observer Friday 18 February 2022
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Travel & Leisure PART 1 -------1. PETRA, JORDAN Our list begins with Petra, Jordan. This ancient city is located in a narrow gorge and was built by the Nabataeans more than 2,000 years ago. This historic place became an important stop on the caravan route between Africa and Arabia. Petra was largely abandoned after a major earthquake in 363 CE. However, shepherds used the ruins for shelter for centuries afterwards. Petra is carved into the side of a cliff and most of it is still hidden underground. The only entrance is through a narrow gorge, called the Siq, which opens onto the city’s main square, or piazza. Petra was designated as a Unesco World Heritage Site in 1985. It’s now one of the most popular tourist destinations in the Middle East. Many movies have been shot at Petra including Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, The Mummy Returns and Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen. 2. MACHU PICCHU, PERU Next up is Machu Picchu, Peru. This Inca city was built around 1500 AD and abandoned just over 100 years later. The site remained unknown to the western world until 1911 when it was discovered by the explorer Hiram Bingham III. It is estimated that there were more than 140 structures at one point in time. These buildings were constructed using dry-stone walls, with no mortar. Although the purpose of this Inca citadel is unknown, some believe that it was a ceremonial site or the estate of the Inca emperor Pachacuti. Machu Picchu is a Unesco World Heritage Site and one of the New Seven Wonders of the World. 3. THE COLOSSEUM, ROME The Colosseum is one of the
Stonehenge is an ancient stone circle located in Wiltshire, England. It’s one of the most mysterious and popular tourist destinations in the United Kingdom. There are two prehistoric stone circles surrounded by chalk pits known as Aubrey holes. The stones are thought to have been brought here from Wales and Cornwall. The stone circles are thought to have been erected between 3000-2000 BC and their purpose is still unknown to this day. It is thought that astronomical rituals may have taken place here.
The best places in the world to visit most iconic historical places in the world. This ancient Roman amphitheatre was completed in 80 AD and is a marvel of engineering. This structure was commissioned by Emperor Vespasian in 72 AD and took over a decade to complete. The Colosseum was used for gladiatorial contests and other public spectacles. It is estimated that over 500,000 people lost their lives in the Colosseum. Today, it is a popular tourist destination and one of Rome’s most iconic landmarks. 4. ANGKOR WAT, CAMBODIA Angkor Wat is an ancient temple complex in Siem Reap, Cambodia that dates back to the 12th century. It was built as a Hindu temple
The 5 best museums in Paris
6. THE TAJ MAHAL, INDIA The Taj Mahal is an ancient mausoleum located in Agra, India. It was built by Emperor Shah Jahan between 1632-1649 to honour his wife Mumtaz Mahal after her death from childbirth. The elaborate mausoleum was constructed using white marble and precious stones such as jade, sapphire and turquoise. It’s considered to be one of the most beautiful buildings in the world and a must-see for any traveller visiting India.
OF GIZA, EGYPT The Pyramids of Giza are some of the oldest and most famous monuments in the world. These ancient Egyptian pyramids were probably built in the 26th century BC. They were part of a funerary complex and were constructed as tombs for three pharaohs: Khufu, Khafre and Menkaure. The Great Pyramid of Giza (also known as the Great Pyramid) is the largest and oldest of these pyramids. It is one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, and the only one still standing. There are many mysteries surrounding this structure, such as how the ancient Egyptians were able to move such large stones and how they managed to build the pyramids so precisely.
7. THE PYRAMIDS
8. STONEHENGE, ENGLAND
1. THE EIFFEL TOWER The Eiffel Tower is very well known and is the most visited monument in the world with it being the first structure in the world to pass the 200 and 300-meter height mark at 324 meters tall, but this was beaten in 1930. The tower has more than seven million visitors a year with three levels for visitors to explore along with restaurants on the first and second floor. In total, there are 1665 steps from the bottom to the top of the tower but visitors will usually climb the first 600 on the first and second floor and then take a lift to the last floor, which will take around 30-45 minutes.
overwhelmed by the idea of trying to see everything in the museum in one visit. The best way to visit the @museelouvre for the first time is to book a guided tour through the museum’s website. The Louvre’s experts are trained to guide you through the museum’s most impressive spaces, giving you fascinating insight into the history of the palace and showing you its famous artworks, including the Mona Lisa, the Winged Victory of Samothrace and the Venus de Milo. Book the guided tour “Welcome to the Louvre” online at: Louvre.fr. Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays at 11 am. Price: €12.
art in Europe. It includes everything such as paintings and sculptures as well as graffiti and videos. The site offers visitor exhibitions, concerts, and performances which are spread over 4 floors. Children can head over to the Little Palais which includes special activities for them. There are two restaurants here, including Tokyo Eat. There are also two gardens, educational activities, and a book shop.
2. LOUVRE MUSEUM It is estimated that it would take a person at least 100 days to see all the works of art in the Louvre Museum! For those who haven’t been there yet, don’t feel
3. PALAIS DE TOKYO The Palais de Tokyo was built in 1937 and is dedicated to Art and Technology in Modern Life and is currently the largest centre for contemporary
dedicated to Vishnu. The site later became a Buddhist temple, but today it is visited by people from all over the world regardless of their religion. Angkor Wat is considered to be one of the most impressive religious monuments in the world and is a must-see for anyone visiting Southeast Asia. 5. THE GREAT WALL OF CHINA The Great Wall of China is an ancient defensive barrier that spans over 13,000 miles. It’s one of the most popular tourist destinations in China and a must-see for anyone visiting Asia. This series of fortifications was built to protect the northern border of China from invaders. It was constructed in several phases during the Qin dynasty (221 BC to 206 BC) and rebuilt
during the Ming dynasty. The wall has been designated one of Unesco’s World Heritage sites since 1987. You can visit this historical site by taking a guided tour or walking around on your own.
4. MUSEE RODIN Auguste Rodin was a French Sculptor and was considered the founder of modern sculpture. In the heart of Paris, only a few steps away from the Eiffel tower is the Musee Rodin, which is an 18th-century mansion and sculpture garden which holds sculptures by Rodin. Surrounded by peaceful and romantic French-style gardens which are a must-
9. THE GREAT SPHINX OF GIZA, EGYPT The Great Sphinx of Giza is an ancient statue that was built between 2500 BC and 2400 BC. It’s located near Cairo in Egypt and is one of the oldest known monumental sculptures from antiquity. The massive structure stands 73 metres high and is thought to have been built for Pharaoh Khafre. Based on a mythological creature, it was carved from one giant piece of stone. 10. THE FORBIDDEN CITY, BEIJING The Forbidden City was the Imperial Palace of the Chinese emperors from 1420 to 1912. It’s located in central Beijing and is now a Unesco World Heritage Site. There are 980 buildings and over 8,000 rooms, making it the largest palace complex in the world. In fact, this colossal structure is spread over 7.75 million square feet. This is one of the best preserved wooden buildings in the world, and a must-see for anyone visiting China. As access was barred to most citizens, it was named The Forbidden City. However, it is now a museum and you can visit with a tour guide or explore on your own. PART 2 NEXT WEEK
see. The gardens are planted with trees and shrubs and visitors should expect to spend one to two hours here. 5. MUSEE GREVIN The Musee Grevin is almost like Madame Tussauds, it is a wax museum, featuring over 500 life-like wax figures representing the world’s best-known celebrities especially ones from France. These include athletes, politicians, singers, and actors such as Christiano Ronaldo and Melanie Cruz. The visit starts in the hall of mirrors and then further along the decorations in the museum takes its visitors to a beautiful sanctuary. In each room, visitors will get to see some of the most important events of the 20th century and tour the country’s history since the middle ages. The museum is open on weekends from 9:30 am to 7 pm.
