New 7 Wonders of the World

The biggest global vote ever to have taken place. Millions of people have already voted for their favorite "wonder." Numerous milestones have already been reached on a journey across the Internet, television and the world's media. This journey will reach its pinnacle on July 7, 2007 - 07.07.07, when the world will discover which monuments have been named as the New 7 Wonders of the World.


Alhambra, Granada, SpainAlhambra (12th century) Granada, Spain

Angkor, CambodiaAngkor (12th century) Cambodia

Christ Redeemer, Rio de Janeiro, BrazilChrist Redeemer (1931) Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

The Hagia Sophia, Istanbul, TurkeyThe Hagia Sophia (532 - 537 A.D.) Istanbul, Turkey

Kiyomizu Temple, Kyoto, JapanKiyomizu Temple (749 - 1855) Kyoto, Japan
Laid out in 794 A.D., the palaces and temples of Kyoto were the residences of Japan's emperors and shoguns for more than 1,000 years. The Japanese Emperor is enthroned at the Imperial Palace of Gosho. Among other significant works are the Higashi Nonganji and Nishi Hoganji temple complexes, the Kinkakuji Temple with its 'Golden Pavilion' and the Kiyomizu Temple, the temple of “clear waters.” The Kyoto sites have been destroyed and rebuilt many times throughout history and are today among Asia's greatest cultural heritage sites.

The Kremlin and Red Square, Moscow, RussiaThe Kremlin and Red Square (1156 - 1850) Moscow, Russia
Built as a residence for Ivan I, the Kremlin was the official residence of the Czars until the 1917 Russian Revolution. Today, it still houses the President’s office. In front of the Kremlin is Red Square – an impressive and exuberant plaza which, for many people, is associated with the infamous May Day demonstrations. Rising from the square is St Basil's Cathedral, built in the 1550s to commemorate Ivan the Terrible's capture of the Mongol stronghold of Kazan.

Machu Picchu, PeruMachu Picchu (1460-1470), Peru

Neuschwanstein Castle, Schwangau, GermanyNeuschwanstein Castle (1869 -1884) Schwangau, Germany

Petra, JordanPetra (9 B.C. - 40 A.D.), Jordan

The Pyramid at Chichén Itzá, Yucatan Peninsula, MexicoThe Pyramid at Chichén Itzá (before 800 A.D.) Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico

Statues of Easter Island, Easter Island, Chile Statues of Easter Island (10th - 16th Century) Easter Island, Chile

Stonehenge, Amesbury, United KingdomStonehenge (3000 B.C. - 1600 B.C.) Amesbury, United Kingdom
Construction of Stonehenge took place between ca. 3000 and 1600 B.C. With each stone weighing around 50 tons, it is regarded as a truly amazing feat of engineering. Although it is not clear who built the monument, nor for what purpose, it has been speculated that it was either a temple dedicated to the worship of ancient earth deities, an astronomical observatory or a sacred burial site.

Sydney Opera House, Sydney, AustraliaSydney Opera House (1954 - 73) Sydney, Australia

The Acropolis of Athens, Athens, Greece The Acropolis of Athens (450 - 330 B.C.) Athens, Greece
Built atop what is known as the “Sacred Rock” of Athens, the Acropolis was to radiate power and protection for its citizens. The temples of the Acropolis have become the some of most famous architectural landmarks of ancient and modern history. Today, the Parthenon in particular is an international symbol of Greek civilization. A graphic illustration of the temple also appears in the UNESCO logo, representing culture and education.

The Eiffel Tower, Paris, FranceThe Eiffel Tower (1887 - 89) Paris, France

Timbuktu, MaliTimbuktu (12th century) Mali
In the 12th century, Timbuktu was at the crossroads of the four most important caravan paths supplying the Arab world, which then spanned from the Middle East all the way to Spain. The accumulation of wealth made it one of the wealthiest places on earth at the time. This allowed one of the first universities in the history of humankind to be established– the celebrated Islamic university called the Koranic Sankore, where 20,000 students studied law, medicine, rhetoric, etc. Today, it remains with us as a powerful myth and, in this way, resembles another Ancient Wonder, the Hanging Gardens of Babylon.

The Great Wall of China, ChinaThe Great Wall of China (220 B.C and 1368 - 1644 A.D.) China

The Pyramids of Giza (2600 - 2500 B.C), Egypt

The Roman Colosseum, Rome, ItalyThe Roman Colosseum (70 - 82 A.D.) Rome, Italy

The Statue of Liberty, New York City, USAThe Statue of Liberty (1886) New York City, U.S.A.
The Statue of Liberty was a gift of the French government to the United States to honor the ideals of freedom and independence. It was a very early gesture of national generosity. This huge statue became a symbol of hope and freedom for many hundreds of millions of people who immigrated to the United States during the 20th century to find a new life of peace and prosperity.

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