Besides the food, culture, and scenery that lure most travelers across the globe, architecture in its own right has quite a powerful draw. Who knew stacks of bricks could elicit such beauty, such mystery, and such imagination. Let’s take a tour of some truly resplendent cities and their gorgeous reminders of the past, present, and future.
San Francisco
The sights that you should see include Golden Gate Bridge, Fisherman’s Warf and also China Town. A really interesting feature of the city is The Painted Ladies, that is a very picturesque Victorian house.
Boston
The city is known for its long history that is preserved by numerous buildings. There are many landmarks dating back to the colonial era, such as the Old North Church and the Old State House that has been home to the Declaration of Independence. Other architectural sites to visit include the John Hancock Tower and Quincy Market. Have lunch in Italian North End.
Quincy Market, Bean Town
New York
Although the city is very well-known for its nightlife, there are also numerous museums, churches and bridges to visit too. The building styles that you will find vary between art deco and the most modern American architecture. Walking along the perimeter of Central park highlights some beauties.
I love a NY view on a sunny day!
Chicago
This is the perfect destination for those who like skyscrapers. Start with the Sears Tower and you could continue with not so well-known buildings like 311 South Whacker Drive. If you ever get to the top of these buildings you will see a sight you will never forget. Chicago also doubles as Gotham City.
Paris
If you feel like the USA isn’t big enough for you, travel to other continents, like Europe. Paris is a ‘must see before you die’ destination. I don;t care how rude you think the French are. The city is known to be one of the best preserved ones, and you can see numerous churches and cathedrals as evidence of the times past. The buildings to visit include the Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame Cathedral, Versailles Palace, and Louvre Museum.
Gay Paris
Rome
Rome is often called the eternal city. Some of the most well-known works are the old St. Peter’s Basilica and also the new St. Peter’s Basilica which is known to be decorated with the artwork of Michelangelo and Bramante. Other important landmarks include the Coliseum, Roman Forum, and The Pantheon. Watch ‘The Bicycle Thief’ before you go, filmed in the early 50′s and shows a very different Rome. Rome hop on hop off tours also feature Rome through the comfort of AC and friendly guide!
Istanbul
This is Europe’s current ‘must-see’ city. Istanbul has a lot going on and it’s architecture is no slouch either. With Aya Sofia, Grand Bazaar, Blue Mosque and Topi Kapi, the former sultans palace, just to name a few. Plus there is the food (hope you like lamb and yogurt) and the thrill of being a what I call a Muslim ‘light’ society.
Blue Mosque
Prague
The city is also known as the ‘golden city of spires’ and the styles we can find here include Medieval, Renaissance and Baroque. The most interesting thing about the city is that we can recognize numerous different styles that are able to coexist side by side. The majority of the old buildings have been renovated with a lot of attention to the smallest details. The buildings you should visit include Prague Castle, St. Vitus Cathedral, Charles Bridge, and the Old Town Square. Prague has a lot of hype and for good reason, it’s freaking gorgeous.
Prague baby!
Honorable Mentions:
Beijing
Where Old meets New. Thanks to the Olympics, Beijing sprung into the skyline some truly magnificent structures. Watch for the Bird’s nest and Central China Television (CCTV) building and historic sites such as Forbidden City.
Moscow
Hello Red Square and the 400 years old St. Basil’s Cathedral, plus the metro is the most beautiful in the world.
Author Bio:
Author Bio
This is a guest post by TheTravelersZone.com. The blog contains useful travel tips and information to make your vacation a memorable experience.
