Architecture

Friday, 29 May 2026
18 facts about Hagia Sophia
18 facts about Hagia Sophia
The most significant work of Byzantine architecture
The Hagia Sophia's Temple, now an Istanbul mosque, was initially built as the Church of Divine Wisdom. It was the highest-ranking temple in the Byzant ...

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Krak des Chevaliers
The outer walls are connected to their inner zone by a sloping stone ramp in the form of a corridor, and numerous openings provide ventilation and natural lighting.
There was a deep moat in the Zwinger (an open area between two defensive walls), which is now filled in and only partially filled with water.
Empire State Building
The building serves as a lightning rod. About 100 lightning strikes the spire of the skyscraper each year.
Big Ben
The clock mechanism is famous for its reliability.
The construction of the clock was entrusted to watchmaker Edward John Dent - after his death, the wo ...
Taj Mahal
It is one of the New Seven Wonders of the World.
The remaining six are the Great Wall of China, the Colosseum, Machu Picchu, Chichén Itzá, Petra, and Christ the Redeemer.
Leaning Tower of Pisa
The city of Pisa and its Leaning Tower are sometimes called the city of Aries Constellation - La citta dell'ariete.
This nickname dates from ancient times, when the year in Pisa's religious calendar began on March 25 ...
Big Ben
It is not known where the common name Big Ben came from.
This nickname was first applied to the Great Bell. It may have been named after Sir Benjamin Hall, w ...
Spanish Steps
Scalinata Trinita dei Monti - called the Spanish Steps are one of the most famous in Rome.
They owe their name to the Mondaleschi palace, the seat of the Spanish embassy to the Holy See. Spai ...
Space Needle
The Space Needle is built on private property and belongs to the Wright family.
Palace of Versailles
King Louis XIV had his morning rituals.
When getting out of bed, he underwent a kind of "ablution": he was massaged, his shirt was changed b ...
Windsor Castle
Much was done during the reign of Elizabeth II, not only to restore and maintain the castle but also to transform it into a major tourist attraction in Britain.
The castle contains a significant part of the Royal Art Collection. In 2007, Windsor Castle was visited by 993.000 tourists.