Tower of Hercules, Spain

 Tower of Hercules is an ancient Roman lighthouse on a peninsula about 2.4 kilometers from the centre of Corunna, Galicia, in north-western Spain.

 The Tower of Hercules is an ancient lighthouse that stands at the opening of La Coruña harbor on the northwestern coast of Spain. The lighthouse stands along the sea route from the Mediterranean Sea to northwestern Europe.

The Tower of Hercules is notable for being one of few examples of a surviving Greco-Roman lighthouse, and the oldest of its kind that has remained in use, though it has undergone construction. The lighthouse stands along the coast as a symbol for the lasting power of the Romans and their impressive architectural knowledge. The structure has withstood the wear and tear of the winds and waters of the coast, and even devastating earthquakes couldn’t knock it down.

Many legends have surrounded the Tower of Hercules, claiming mythical origins. The tower’s namesake, Hercules, is said to have won a fight with a giant, and buried its head and weapons at the site. Other mythologies of the structure include a Gaelic Celtic legend, in which King Breogán had the site built to stand as a beacon to his sons. For this legend, a statue of the king continues to guard the lighthouse.

Built in the 1st century AD by the Romans, likely during Trajan’s rule, the tower was known as Farum Brigantium, after the lighthouse in Alexandria, Egypt’s island, Pharos. However, the tower has gone through many names over its long history. Roman explorers arrived in La Coruña’s port of Brigantium around 61BC, and began to colonize the area. The port was important for defense and trade, guarding the entrance to the Bay of Biscay. The area had been a dangerous one for ships, dubbed the Coast of Death by the early Roman seamen. Though the presence of lighthouse has helped to increase safety, the orientation of the light house seems to have been constructed to aid travelers coming from the area that is now the United Kingdom, rather than those coming from the mainland of Europe.

The tower has been restored several times over its history, and probably had some reconstructions in around 1684. Later, the tower was again restored during the 18th century by Eustaquio Giannini, a naval engineer, who altered the form of the tower and added 21 meters in height to the once 34-meter tall tower. Construction on the tower was continued by Giannini’s brother, Jose Giannini from 1799 to 1806.

Though it still functions today, the lighthouse was not used continuously throughout history, with a long period of disuse – probably after the Viking invasions. The tower itself may still have been used during this time. The town around the tower thrived during the 11th or 12th century, and the townspeople used the structure as a defensive observation post. The town grew rapidly in the 14th and 15th centuries, and the tower was heralded as an icon of the city.

The site was excavated in the 1990s, and historians were able to discover more information about the tower’s history, particularly regarding its Roman origins.

Machu Picchu

Late afternoon at machu picchu in Peru

Machu Picchu was probably built for Incan emperor Pachacuti, the site is sometimes called “The Lost City of the Incas.” The site’s full purpose is still unknown, but many believe that these ruins once served as a weekend resort destination for the wealthy of the community, while others believe it is a sacred religious site, because of its remote location. Machu Picchu is one of the few ancient Incan sites that were not destroyed and plundered by the Spanish. There are several rooms of the ruins, which have been named by archaeologists, such as the Temple of the Sun, the Room of the Three Windows.

Other important sites at Machu Picchu include the Sun Gat, the Temple of the Condor, and Intihuatana, a carved stone that functions as a sun dial.

Machu Picchu is a pre-Spanish, Inca civilization site located almost 8,000 feet above sea level. The site is located on a mountain ridge above the valley of Urubamba in Peru. The city is also called the “City of the Incas”. Machu Picchu is perhaps the most well known places affiliated with the Inca civilization.

Machu Picchu was built around 1450 for the Inca emperor Pachacuti, but was abandoned only 100 years later with the arrival of the Spanish. Although the city was known by the local inhabitants, it was not given global attention until 1911, when the American historian, Hiram Bingham, announced its presence to the scholar community. During his ensuing excavation, hundreds of artifacts were taken from the ruins and sent to Yale University of study. Recent discoveries also show that the site may have been visited by various other foreigners before Bingham, at which point even more artifacts were taken. The site was labeled as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1983. 

Tierra del Fuego National Park

Tierra del Fuego National Park in Argentina

The Tierra del Fuego National Park is located on the Argentine island of the same name, which is part of Patagonia and the Andes. Tierra del Fuego, meaning land of fire, is a triangular island that is part of both Chile and Argentina. The National Park contains coastal forests where visitors enjoy nature by hiking, climbing, fishing, kayaking and other outdoor activities. The main features of natural beauty at this park include waterfalls, mountains and glaciers, and many species of wildlife.

Salisbury Cathedral, London

Salisbury Cathedral, London – one of Britain’s most famous Gothic Cathedral

Salisbury Cathedral, London is undoubtedly Britain’s most famous 13th century Gothic cathedral. The enormous and lofty spire grabs your attention. Once you reach the Cathedral, viewing the stonework that has gone towards creating such an architecturally evolved church in Salisbury, is in itself a wonderful experience.

The Cathedral is situated in the midst of a cluster of monumental buildings and edifices. It is enclosed by eight acres of busy green lawns and you can’t differentiate much between walking on a carpet or walking on grass.

Of the four surviving Magna Carta, the one at Salisbury Cathedral is the best preserved. Apart from this, the Cathedral’s clock, which dates back to 1386 AD and now located in the magnificent Bell is the oldest working clock. Being a pioneering church in Britain, the Salisbury Cathedral was the first to introduce the Cathedral School. The Salisbury Cathedral was also the first to introduce an exclusive girl’s choir.

The Cathedral maintains records of people who have been married, baptized or buried in the Cathedral and the records are provided to any body from the general public who might want to know more about their ancestors/ family members or friends.

Guided tours of the Cathedral are provided everyday. Each and every aspect of the Cathedral’s rich past and its’ many historical artifacts and relics are highlighted in the most interesting manner. If you are energetic, just climb upstairs, 332 steps in all, to the pinnacle of the tower. The experience from the top is breathtaking.

CN Tower in Canada

CN Tower in Canada

CN Tower, originally named for Canadian National Tower, the railway company that built it, is a communications tower used for broadcasting various media, and an observation tower. At the time it was built, the tower was the world’s tallest, but it was surpassed by Burj Khalifa and Canton Tower.

The CN Tower has been called one of the seven modern wonders of the world for its extreme height. A glass elevator takes visitors to the observation deck, where a glass floor allows brave visitors to look 1,122 feet straight down below them. The 360 Restaurant slowly revolves, allowing diners to catch the 360 degree skyline view.

Thrill seekers at the CN Tower can check out EdgeWalk, an attraction in which individuals are harnessed and connected to a trolley, allowing them to lean out over the edge of the tower’s main pod.

Iguazu Falls in Argentina

Iguazu Falls in Argentina

The impressive Iguazu Falls, which separate the Iguazu River into the upper and lower sections, are situated along the border between Argentina and Brazil. The number and height of the falls varies throughout the year depending on rainfall. The largest waterfall is the Devil’s Throat, which is about 82 meters (269 feet) high. Union Fall is the largest cataract at Iguazu Falls.

Local legends have it that a Naipi, a beautiful woman, was expected to marry one of the gods. Instead, she escaped from the wedding with her love, Taroba, in a canoe. The angry god left at the altar responded by cutting the river and creating the waterfall, so the two lovers would fall to their doom.