8. MACHU PICCHU, Peru
The sanctuary of Machu Picchu is protected by UNESCO not just for the citadel itself, but for its spectacular natural setting, where the peaks and valleys of the Peruvian Andes shelve down to meet the Amazon Basin.
The central citadel is the most important urban legacy of the Inca empire, built around 1450 and abandoned in 1572 when the Spanish invaded. It wasn’t until 1911 that American explorer Hiram Bingham rediscovered the enormous walls and terraces that outline what was a complex and sophisticated city.
The terrain around the site is often harsh, with steep climbs, but following the Inca pilgrimage trail to reach it puts Machu Picchu and its importance in its natural context.
The full extent of the religious, astronomical and agricultural significance of the site still eludes archaeologists today, which only adds to the allure of this staggering human achievement and its connection with the awesome landscape around it.
9. PHONG NHA-KE BANG NATIONAL PARK, Vietnam
Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park covers a vast swathe, 126,000 hectares, of dense tropical jungle and limestone plateau in Central Vietnam. The area is protected for what lies above ground, including many endemic species, as well as the vast subterranean network of caves.
The site has been nicknamed the cave kingdom due to its 100km or so of limestone karst caves and connecting rivers, some barely explored. Some of these caves are the largest ever discovered. Hang Son Doong is considered the world’s largest cave and it is said that more people have scaled the summit of Everest than have seen inside its furthest chambers.
The majority of Phong Nha-Ke Bang remains unexplored, protected by impenetrable forests as well as unexploded ordnance from the Vietnam war, leading speleologists to speculate that there may be even larger caves waiting to be discovered.
10. OLD CITY OF SANA’A, Yemen
Sana’a is an ancient city of ‘skyscrapers’, the burnt brick towers that jostle across the skyline. It has been inhabited for more than 2,500 years and bears the traces of successive rulers and faiths.
The city was a centre for the promotion of Islam in the 7th and 8th centuries and the old town’s crowded streets are still home to 103 mosques. The Great Mosque of Sana’a was the first built outside Mecca and Medina.
The 6,000 or so tall and beautifully embellished houses in the old city are built of rammed earth and decorated with white gypsum and fired brick patterns. There are winding lanes to explore, markets, caravanserais and gardens.
The war in Yemen means it is still an unsafe destination; the hope is that one day it will open up again so that more people can experience one of the most fascinating ancient cities in the world.
Architectural Traveller | Page 24 Old City of Sana’a, Yemen
Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park, Vietnam
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80
