The New Seven Wonders of the World – and how to see them

You may remember learning at school about the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World: the Colossus of Rhodes, the Great Pyramid of Giza, the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, the Statue of Zeus at Olympia, the Temple of Artemis at Ephesus, the Mausoleum at Halicarnassus and the Lighthouse of Alexandria. Of these, four were destroyed by earthquake and two by fire, leaving only the Great Pyramid still standing.

In 2007, though, an organisation called the New 7 Wonders Foundation (N7W) compiled a revised list, whittling down a catalogue of 200 existing monuments to a fresh seven via a global poll (Giza’s pyramid is not included this time, but it is given an honorary mention). Here, in alphabetical order, are the New Seven Wonders of the World.

Chichén Itzá

The ancient Mayan city of temples and pyramids rises from the jungle, with more monuments still being unearthed. Built between the years 250-900, it was once home to 35,000 people and its design has astronomical significance, relating to equinoxes and solstices. Its most famous structure is El Castillo (“The Castle”), constructed by foreign invaders in the 10th century. Each of the four sides of this pyramid – facing north, east, south, and west – has 91 stairs which when added to the step on the top platform, amount to 365, the number of days in the solar year. I climbed one side for a view over the whole site, then to cool off, I swam in one of the cenotes close by. These are large, natural wells of clear blue-green water shaded by lush hanging vines and tree roots. A magical experience.

Best time to visit: Late winter and autumn

Little known fact: The site has a stadium that honoured Mayan ballgame athletes, where the unfortunate losers were beheaded as a sacrifice to the gods.

Take me there: Mexico's Mayan Trail

Christ the Redeemer

Overlooking the city of Rio de Janeiro, the imposing figure of Jesus is the largest Art Deco statue in the world at 30 metres tall, with outstretched arms spanning 28 metres, on an eight-metre pedestal. The cross-shaped monument is a symbol of Christianity, representing both Rio and the nation, and is a welcoming gesture of peace. It stands at the summit of Mount Corcovado, but was actually made in France, from reinforced concrete and soapstone, and transported in parts to Rio, where it was reconstructed. The only access to it used to be via 200 steps, but in 2003 escalators and lifts were installed to make the approach easier.

Best time to go: The low-tourist season, March-June and August-November.

Little known fact: On completion of a restoration in 2010, the statue was illuminated with green-and-yellow lighting in support of the Brazil team competing in the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

Take me there: Grand Tour of South America

Colosseum

Slaves from all over the Roman Empire built the Colosseum in Rome between 70AD-80AD. Designed to seat 80,000 people, it was conceived as a symbol of the power of Rome. The oval-shaped building is almost twice as long and 1.5 times as wide as a modern football field but hosted games of a very different kind. Gladiators in the arena were often slaves, criminals, or prisoners of war, though some were volunteers hoping to gain fame or freedom. They fought each other, as well as animals. Lions and other exotic animals were brought in from all corners of the Empire – even wild bears from Scotland were imported. The ferocious animals were also forced to fight each other, sometimes chained together to provoke them into action. Earthquakes, and human theft of stones, have damaged the structure, but as you enter through the Stern Gate, you can still imagine the roar of the crowd that accompanied gladiators battling to the death.

Best time to go: Spring and early autumn.

Little known fact: A thumbs-up sign meant the gladiator should be killed, while a closed fist with a wrap-around thumb meant sparing him.

Take me there: Grand Tour of Italy from Venice to Sicily

Great Wall of China

Reminiscent of a long sinuous dragon scaling mountains and plateaus, from the eastern coast to the western desert in northern China, the largest man-made structure in the world is 13,170 miles long, with many twists and turns along the way, punctuated by fortresses and watchtowers. It is not one continuous wall, but a series of sections built over many centuries and dynasties, begun around 220BC by the first emperor. Aimed at keeping invaders out and protecting the indigenous culture, it was completed in the 17th century, and has been repaired many times since. At first, rammed earth and wood were the materials used, but later these were replaced by brick and a sticky rice-based mortar, as well as granite and marble in places. The further you get from Beijing, the fewer crowds you will encounter on the trail.

Best time to go: April to November

Little known fact: It would take an active person 18 months to walk all the existing parts of the Great Wall.

More information: UNESCO World Heritage Centre

Machu Pichu

This iconic Inca stronghold was brought to international attention in 1911 by American explorer Hiram Bingham, who stumbled upon it when he was searching for somewhere else entirely (often the case). Local people were of course aware of it, but it was the westerner who gained the kudos. Built in around 1440AD, no one knows why Machu Picchu was abandoned 100 years later, but for 600 years it was enveloped in the jungle, hidden away from the Spanish conquistadors.

You can hike the Inca Trail up to the Sun Gate in four days, but I took the narrow-gauge railway from Cusco (the city is great for buying Alpaca accessories), which passes through villages so closely, and slowly, you could almost reach out of the window and buy from one of the street stalls. The ‘city in the clouds’ features 200 temples, palaces, towers and fountains, and indicates the might of the Inca Empire at its height. One of my companions was in her eighties but scaled the slopes like a mountain goat.

Best time to go: Late spring, early autumn.

Little known fact: The Incas grew more than 3,000 varieties of potatoes on terraces that are still being farmed today.

Take me there: Footsteps of the Incas tour

Petra

It’s best to enter the Rose-Red City at around 6am before the coachloads arrive two hours later (I returned at sunset when it was quiet again and often there is traditional music by local musicians). Walk through the Siq Gorge and imagine how the city might have been when it was an important trading route for spices, minerals and textiles between East Asia and the Mediterranean, until its decline in 300AD. For 500 years from the 13th century, Petra ‘disappeared’ into the desert, only to be rediscovered by Swiss explorer Jean Louis Burckhardt in 1812.

Scottish painter David Roberts helped draw attention to it by producing accurate drawings of the awe-inspiring, rock-cut structures as they were being excavated. Most spectacular is the Treasury, a 2,000-year-old temple and funeral site where bodies were blessed before being entombed nearby. The name derives from the Bedouin belief that treasure lay within, but when they attacked it, they found nothing of value.

Best time to go: Spring or autumn

Little known fact: Copper and iron, seen in the rock strata, and Dead Sea bitumen were sent to Egypt for use in the mummifying process.

Take me there: Jordan with Ancient Petra

Taj Mahal

This is another one to visit in the early morning, ideally before sunrise, staying as long as you can before it gets too hot and full of tourists (mainly Indian when I was there). Admire the glistening white marble as the light changes during the day: pink at dawn, white at noon, and golden or even translucent blue at sunset.

Entering through the arch to reveal the entire building, its beauty is breathtaking. This symbol of eternal love was built as a mausoleum by the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan for his favourite wife Mumtaz, who died giving birth to their 14th child. It took 20,000 workers more than 20 years to complete, from 1632 to 1653.

Legend has it that the heartbroken widower wanted to build a second tomb in black marble on the other bank of the river for himself but was usurped by his second son before his plans could be brought to fruition. After his death, Shah Jahan’s body was moved to lie alongside his late wife, in the basement, and the two simple shrines can be seen in the interior.

Best time to visit: Between October and March, to avoid the intense heat.

Little known fact: More than 1,000 elephants were used to carry marble and precious stones to the construction site.

Take me there: India's Golden Triangle with Ranthambore National Park

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