Buzz
Just kidding! While it's true that there's so much more to explore in countries around the world beyond their landmarks, it's hard to deny the significance these monuments hold in attracting travelers. Some come with fascinating histories, while others are steeped in incredible legends that spark curiosity, drawing visitors eager to uncover their mysteries.
10. Cryptic Messages
Overlooking the city of Rio de Janeiro, the towering Christ the Redeemer statue is one of the largest depictions of Jesus globally and ranks among the New Seven Wonders of the World. With arms outstretched, it represents peace, and it stands as Brazil's most renowned landmark. Its right arm points toward southern Rio, while the left reaches toward northern Rio.
In the 1850s, a local priest envisioned the creation of a Christian monument on Mount Corcovado. Though his request for funding from Princess Isabel was denied after Brazil's separation of church and state in 1889, the priest's dream came true after World War I. With multiple designers contributing, the statue was finally unveiled to the public on October 12, 1931.
The workers who painstakingly crafted and attached the 6 million soapstone tiles to the statue are said to have left behind personal messages on the back of the tiles, ranging from heartfelt wishes to the names of their loved ones. One worker, Lygia Maria Avila da Veiga, took great pride in her contributions, saying: “I wrote many wishes on the soapstones. They are up there, up there on top.”
9. 70 Years and Still Going
In South Dakota lies what is believed to be the largest monument in the world, though it remains unfinished after 70 years. The project began in 1948 when Polish-American sculptor Korczak Ziolkowski embarked on creating Crazy Horse, a monument of a Native American warrior on horseback. He originally estimated it would take 30 years to complete. Starting with less than $200, no access to electricity, water, or proper roads, he scaled Thunderhead Mountain with a 741-step wooden staircase to begin the work. With little money to hire workers, Ziolkowski labored alone for many years. He passed away in 1982, leaving behind a final wish for his family to continue the monumental project.
Crazy Horse holds a significant place in Native American culture, and the monument is a tribute to him. The granite mountain being carved features a symbolic representation of Crazy Horse, as no photographs of the warrior exist. When finished, the monument will have Crazy Horse pointing southeast toward a burial ground for many Native Americans. The memorial project was conceived as a response to the nearby Mount Rushmore tribute to white American leaders. Once completed, the Crazy Horse memorial will dwarf the four faces on Mount Rushmore. In the meantime, visitors can explore the top of the unfinished structure, which will one day showcase Crazy Horse’s outstretched arm.
8. A Disputed Tree
Maungakiekie, meaning 'mountain of the kiekie vine' in Maori, is also known as One Tree Hill. This volcanic peak in Auckland, New Zealand, holds deep historical significance. After a battle in 1740, a fortified Maori village on the summit was abandoned following the death of its chief. Only one native tree was left standing after the village was deserted, giving the peak its name, One Tree Hill.
Sadly, in 1852, a settler felled the solitary tree, prompting businessman John Logan Campbell to plant a grove of pine trees in its place. However, only one pine tree from the grove survived. Campbell’s gravesite now rests at the peak, accompanied by a bronze statue of Chief Tamaki and an obelisk honoring the Maori people.
In 1994, Maori activists partially sawed down the surviving pine tree, and in 2000, it was completely destroyed by other activists in protest of the New Zealand government's treatment of the Maori people.
In 2016, nine new trees were planted to replace the pine. These trees are now enclosed by a fence, and once they have matured, arborists will select the hardiest tree to remain, thus restoring the true meaning of One Tree Hill.
7. A Case of Misunderstanding
The Sultan Ahmed Mosque, a key attraction in Istanbul, Turkey, is often referred to as The Blue Mosque due to the striking colors of its interior. This iconic mosque was built between 1609 and 1616 to symbolize the strength of the Ottoman Empire and continues to serve as a place of worship today.
Sultan Ahmed I is said to have insisted on having six minarets for the mosque, which sparked controversy within the Muslim community, as only the great mosque in Mecca had six at the time. Undeterred, the sultan arranged for a seventh minaret to be added to the Mecca mosque, allowing him to have his six minarets. Another version of the story suggests that the architect misunderstood the sultan’s request for 'altin minaret' (golden minaret) and mistakenly designed six 'alti minaret' (minarets).
6. The Sea People
South Africa is widely recognized for its diverse wildlife and the majestic Table Mountain, but it also boasts some breathtaking beaches. Along the Wild Coast sits Hole-in-the-Wall, one of the country's most unforgettable landmarks. This impressive detached cliff features a natural opening carved by the relentless power of the waves.
The cliff earned its name from Captain Vidal, who led the Barracouta vessel on an expedition in 1823 to survey the coastline. The local Bomvana people, however, referred to it as 'iziKhaleni,' meaning 'Place of the Sound' or 'Place of Thunder.'
According to legend, the Mpako River was once a lagoon cut off by a cliff. A beautiful young girl sat at the edge of the cliff each day, mesmerized by the power of the waves. One day, a sea person emerged to meet her. With long hair and hands and feet resembling flippers, he asked her to marry him. When her father discovered this, he was furious and forbade her from seeing the man from the sea again.
The girl defied her father and ran to the sea man, telling him about her father’s warning. The man instructed her to wait for the high tide. When she returned to the cliff at high tide, she saw several sea people standing on top of it, carrying a giant fish. Using the fish, they carved a hole in the cliff, connecting the lagoon to the sea. As the high tide surged through, hundreds of sea people followed the waves, with the girl’s sea lover leading the way. She joined him, and together, the group disappeared into the hole and was never seen again.
The legend lives on, and it is said that when the tide is high, the singing of the sea people can be heard above the sound of the waves around Hole-in-the-Wall.
5. An Angel on Top of the World
As the towers collapsed on September 11, 2001, some claimed to see the face of the devil in the smoke. While most of the 9/11 devil face images circulating today are clearly manipulated, the most infamous one, called 'Satan in the smoke,' still stirs debate. Some believe that the devil—or even a likeness of Osama bin Laden—appeared as the South Tower fell. There are even those who are convinced that Nostradamus foretold the tragedy that would strike Lower Manhattan on that fateful day.
As part of the reconstruction of the World Trade Center Complex, the Freedom Tower, also known as One World Trade Center, was built. It opened on November 3, 2014, and its observatory welcomed visitors on May 29, 2015. On September 11, 2016, the Tribute in Light Memorial illuminated the area where the Twin Towers once stood. Photographer Rich McCormack captured several shots of the lights and noticed something striking. High in the sky, at the end of the beam, was an image that appeared to resemble an angel.
McCormack was adamant that he had not altered the photographs in any way. He believed that the figure could either be an angel or the Lord himself watching over Manhattan. While some dismissed the image as ‘pareidolia’ or an optical illusion, others were moved by the sight and interpreted it as a religious sign.
4. The End of the World as We Know It
The Alhambra complex in Granada, Spain, was originally built as a small fortress in 889 AD, later renovated in the 13th century to include a royal palace. The name 'Alhambra' comes from the Arabic 'qa’lat al-Hamra,' meaning 'red castle.' The complex is home to notable features like the Court of the Myrtles, the Hall of the Ambassadors, the Court of the Lions, and the Hall of the Abencerrajes. It is the only surviving palatine city from the Islamic Golden Age and attracts thousands of tourists every year, standing as one of Spain's most famous historical landmarks.
Like many historical sites, the Alhambra is steeped in legends, one of the most well-known being linked to the end of the world. On the Gate of Justice, a key entrance to the fortress, a carved hand appears on the arch stone with a key in the center of the inner arch. Both are powerful Islamic symbols, with the hand meant to ward off the evil eye. According to legend, when the hand and key align, the world as we know it, along with the fortress, will be destroyed. It is said that to prevent this catastrophe, some fearful Catholics placed a statue of the Virgin Mary over the entrance to the Alhambra.
3. The Final Glimpse of Freedom
Venice, Italy, is renowned for its canals, and the gondola rides that take visitors through these waters are one of the city's major attractions. Venice is also the site of a historic and infamous prison within the Doges Palace. At one point, a bridge was built to connect this old prison with a newer one on the other side of the river. Over time, this bridge became known as the Bridge of Sighs.
The bridge is believed to have earned its name because those escorted across it were often headed for long prison sentences, sighing as they caught their final, fleeting glimpse of the river, which would be their last view of freedom. Poet Lord Byron once mused in one of his works that the bridge was the last place condemned criminals could see Venice before facing their execution. Today, as you pass the bridge on the river, you can still spot the old prison cells on the right.
An alternative, more optimistic legend suggests that couples who kiss while gliding under the bridge in a gondola will never be parted from each other.
2. The Ceremony of Strength
To honor the arrival of King-Emperor George V and Queen-Empress Mary at Apollo Bunder, now known as Mumbai, in 1911, a grand arch monument was built and named the Gateway of India. George V made history as the first British monarch to visit India. The gateway stands facing the Arabian Sea on one side and the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel on the other, becoming one of the most photographed landmarks in the world. It was also the location from which the last British troops left India in 1948, following the country's independence the previous year. In addition, it was at the Gateway that Mahatma Gandhi arrived when he returned to India after a 22-year stay in South Africa.
Eleven years after the devastating 2008 terror attacks in Mumbai, the Gateway of India hosted the '26/11 Stories of Strength' event. The monument was illuminated, with the fateful date displayed at the top, while the Indian Navy band performed in front of it. Several prominent figures, including the legendary actor Amitabh Bachchan, attended this poignant ceremony, with Bachchan concluding the event by reciting a powerful poem. The event also featured testimonies from survivors and coincided with the 150th anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi's birth.
1. A Place of Myth and Legend
The Pena Palace, a majestic castle nestled in the Sintra Mountains of Portugal, was built on the grounds of a medieval chapel dedicated to 'Our Lady of Pena.' After reports of a Virgin Mary apparition at the chapel, many pilgrims began visiting. In 1493, King John II of Portugal and Queen Leonor ascended the Sintra Mountains to pay their respects to their patron, and the king, struck by the beauty of the location, ordered the construction of a monastery there, which was later donated to the Order of Saint Jerome. A devastating earthquake in 1755 shook the monastery, but the chapel remained untouched.
Sintra, a town famous for the Pena Palace and a collection of other castles and palaces, is a key tourist destination in Portugal. It has been recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is a picturesque landmark. According to legend, the town’s name comes from a temple built by its people, which was rejected by Rome. In response, they consecrated the temple to Cinthia, the moon goddess, and thus the town became known as Sintra.
Sintra is also known for the legend of the Yellow Rock. In a secluded part of Sintra, there stands a large stone that juts out from the ground. It is said that anyone who can topple this stone will be granted access to a hidden treasure buried beneath it. However, there is a peculiar condition: the stone can only be moved by throwing eggs at it. Long ago, an elderly woman came to the stone carrying a basket full of eggs. She hurled all of them at the rock, but the stone remained unmoved. To this day, the yellow moss covering the strange rock is believed to be the remnants of egg yolks spilled by the unfortunate woman.
