Top five landmarks in the world, according to Trip Advisor

If you are planning your vacation and you are looking for memorable places to visit, look no further. For inspiration, all you have to do is consult Trip Advisor’s landmarks of the year catalog that features the best ranked touristic attractions of the world. 

Each year, Trip Advisor rolls out a ranking with the world’s most popular landmarks. It features some incredible places that attract millions of tourists and all of them are destinations that you should definitely include on your bucket list.

Some are ancient buildings, while others are modern architecture marvels, some were reclaimed by the nature that surrounds them while others have shaped the landscape around them, but all our top five landmarks are equally famous for their beauty and historic significance.

Angkor Wat

Angkor Wat is the destination of choice for 2017. The temple complex in Cambodia is the largest religious monument in the world and it attracts millions of tourists every year. It was originally constructed as a Hindu temple of god Vishnu but it slowly changed into a Buddhist temple. It is generally accepted that Angkor Wat was a funerary temple for King Suryavarman II.

The temple is praised not only for its awe-inspiring size and architecture but also for its unique decorations. The bas-reliefs were designed for viewing from left to right in the order of Hindu funereal ritual.

The Angkor complex represents the entire range of Khmer art from the 9th to the 14th and is part of the UNESCO Heritage Site.

Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque

The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque is another must-see landmark for those looking to ravel in grandiose architecture. Located in Abu Dhabi, it is considered the key religious site of the United Arab Emirates.

It is the resting place of Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, who promoted the construction of the complex. He wanted the building to emphasize the diversity and complexity of the Islamic world.

The Mosque was completed in 2007 and the materials used came from all over the world.

Mezquita Cathedral

Mezquita Cathedral in Cordoba, Spain, comes third on the list of most popular landmarks to visit in 2017. It is also known as the Great Mosque of Cordoba and it’s famous for being one of the most accomplished monuments of Moorish architecture.

Memorable and recognisable are the building’s arcade columns, 856 of them, to be exact made out of jasper, onyx, marble, and granite, pieces belonging to the Roman temple that was on the site previous to the building of the mosque.

St. Peter’s Basilica

St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican is the fourth most popular landmark. Built in the Renaissance style, according to Christian tradition, it holds the burial site of Saint Peter, the first Pope. St. Peter’s Basilica was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1984.

The Basilica is also famous for incredible works of art signed by Michelangelo, Antonio Averulino and Bernini. There are over 100 tombs within St. Peter’s Basilica, most belonging to religious figures, popes and cardinals.

Taj Mahal

India‘s white marble mausoleum is last on our top five popular landmarks. Commissioned in 1632 by the Mughal emperor, Shah Jahan, the building was specifically built to house the tomb of his favourite wife, Mumtaz Mahal. It took ten years and thousands of artisans to complete the complex which is now the country’s most iconic buildings.

The Taj Mahal was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983 and each year, it attracts millions of tourists from every corner of the world.