The world is full of incredible historical places built by old civilizations. Visiting historical places is important as it reflects the history of the past and helps us to understand different traditions and cultures.
Historical places attract tourists from all over the world and therefore increase cultural tourism.
Here is a list of the most popular historical places to visit in 2020.
1. Petra:
Petra is a historical and archeological place in Jordan renowned for its beautiful cut stone architecture and innovative water conduit system. Petra is the most visited and popular tourist destination in Jordan. Different color of stones was used to build its various buildings and recognized as the Rose City. Inside Petra are a collection of tombs, temples carved into cliffs, and old living spaces of Nabatean civilization.
There are many structures of Roman and Byzantine times inside Petra. Petra has attracted explorers around the world because of its archeological excavations. Petra has been recognized as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.
2. Machu Picchu:
Machu Picchu is named in the list of New Seven Wonders of the World in 2007. The ruins of Machu Picchu are the most beautiful historic site in the world. Machu Picchu is the symbol of Incan civilization. Machu Picchu is designed with polished dry-stone walls in classical Inca style. The important structures of Machu Picchu are the Intihuatana, the Room of the Three Windows, and the Temple of the Sun.
All of these structures are reconstructed to provide tourists a better perspective of how they appeared originally. Cultural artifacts including silver statues, human bones, ceramic vessels, and jewelry were removed by Bingham from Machu Picchu and were displayed at Yale University. It is recognized as the World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1983.
3. The Pyramids of Giza:
The pyramids of Giza are the most ancient Wonders of the world. The Pyramids of Giza are the most ancient three pyramids in Egypt. The pyramids are made of blocks of limestone and granite that formed a smooth outer surface. The largest of the pyramid is the Great Pyramid which was built by the Pharaoh Khufu and three known chambers are found inside it.
Each massive pyramid includes temples, solar boat pits, a palace, and many other features. Histories about the Pharaonic civilization are inscribed on the tomb walls at Giza. The unlocked tombs are not accessible to visitors. Tourists are allowed to take a guided tour to enter all three of the great pyramids.
4. Stonehenge:
Stonehenge is the most ancient historic monument in the world and is recognized as the icon of British culture. Stonehenge is made of a ring of standing stones weighing about 25 tons.
These stones are settled within the land in the middle of Neolithic and Bronze Age statues in England. Archeologists believed that the outer rings of bluestones were sourced from a local quarry but it is still not clear how the giant volcanic stones came in the middle of England. Stonehenge and its surrounding land were enhanced and added to the World Heritage Site which was list by UNESCO in 1986.
5. Persepolis:
Persepolis is one of the most historic places in the world. It is an immense half-artificial and half-natural stone terrace made of limestone, mud-brick, and cedarwood. It features the Achaemenid design of architecture. Persepolis is recognized as the greatest archeological site in the world because of its monumental staircase, throne rooms, reception rooms, and dependencies.
The terrace is a great architectural creation with its walls covered by sculpted friezes, huge stoned winged bulls, and large halls. All the ruins are made of dark-grey marble. Persepolis was designed to be a showplace for the festivals and receptions of the Kings and their empire.
6. Taj Mahal:
Taj Mahal is a huge white-marble mausoleum in Agra, India. This white-marble tomb was built by Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan for his wife Mumtaz Mahal. Taj Mahal houses the tomb of Shah Jahan and his wife Mumtaz Mahal. The tomb houses a mosque and a guest house and is surrounded by a crenelated wall on three sides. Taj Mahal is a symbol of the rich history of India and is exemplified as the best Mughal architecture. The interior of the Taj Mahal features the traditional ornamental elements. Taj Mahal receives a large number of tourists from around the world and is listed on the World Heritage Site by UNESCO.
7. Potala Palace:
Potala Palace is the holiest palace of Tibetan Buddhism, Dalai Lama. This giant palace is comprised of many rooms, shrines, towers, chapels, and libraries, etc. It is recognized as one of the most beautiful architectural buildings worldwide because of its spectacular architecture, splendid artworks, and history. This beautiful palace is made of woods and stones. The roof of the palace is made of woods with beautiful carvings about Buddhism and the walls are made of granite stone. Many crafts represent the local life of Tibetan. This palace is a great place for cultural tourism as visitors can learn about Tibetan culture and history.
8. Alhambra:
The Alhambra is a great palace and fortress located in Spain. The Alhambra is the most significant surviving remnant of the Islamic period. It is one of the most famous tourist destinations in Spain. The Alhambra features different styles of the Arabic calligraphy carved into wood, marble, and on tiles. The main structures of the Alhambra include the Royal Complex, Court of the Myrtles, Halls of the Ambassadors, Court of the Lions and Fountains, and the Halls of the Abencerrajes. The Alhambra is a beautiful site with numerous gardens and buildings each of which attracts a large number of visitors.
James is a co-author with one his friends at Travelistia. He loves to write adventure stories and explore adventure filled destinations.