Is the list of places to visit becoming too voluminous? Ours was, which is why we decided to reduce it from a few thousand to a summary of wonderful places, some of the most unforgettable on the planet. Not only that: we made the bold move of ranking them in order of splendour based on a formula that takes into account the recommendations of the most experts, the recommendations of our community of travellers and a certain divinatory intuition. The result? You can discover the 500 places thus chosen by reading The World Ranking, but to whet your appetite, here are the top ten.
The Great Wall of China, one of the most beautiful places on the planet. ©aphotostory/Shutterstock
Beautiful places and where to find them
1. Angkor Temples, Cambodia
When we counted the votes for the destinations on this book's list, we realised that the first runner-up had crushed all contenders, winning by 36% over the very close second and third. In practice, a plebiscite.
In Buddhist Cambodia , theAngkor Wat Temple, the world's largest dedicated to the Hindu god Vishnu, seems almost out of place: yet it was a Hindu civilisation that once stretched as far as Burma, Laos and southern China that created this masterpiece. South-East Asia is littered with grandiose temples, yet the Angkor Wat - a representation of heaven on earth, built of sandstone blocks and embellished with bas-reliefs depicting scenes from the Ramayana, the Mahabharata and the Puranas - leaves one breathless. Angkor Wat is also the jewel in the crown of an architectural complex comprising a thousand temples, pilgrimage sites and funerary monuments that together constitute a ghost town in the jungles of northern Cambodia.
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2. The Great Barrier Reef, Australia
Second place on the list goes to a natural wonder that stretches over 3000 km along the coast of north-eastern Australia. The Great Barrier Reef needs no introduction. But here is some information: it is the largest coral system in the world and is home to 400 different corals and 1500 species of fish. Here you can spot about 30 species of whales, dolphins and porpoises, as well as 6 types of sea turtles and 17 types of sea snakes. Constantly rising ocean water temperatures are killing and bleaching corals, and a reversal of this trend does not seem likely, but for now, diving and snorkelling enthusiasts can still enjoy this kaleidoscopic aquatic paradise.
Machu Picchu, enchanting places in the world ©Kelly Cheng Travel Photography/Getty Images
3. Machu Picchu, Peru
The second and third runners-up are separated by a handful of votes, but they couldn't be more different... Admiring Machu Picchu from the Gate of the Sun after a gruelling four-day trek along the Camino Inca is a rite of passage for anyone visiting Peru. Yet it is not the Andean landscape nor the almost inaccessible site on which it stands that makes Machu Picchu one of the most enchanting places in the world, but rather the fact that no one knows what happened here. The best thing is to visit this mysterious place with a clear mind, looking for a possible explanation yourself.
The Great Wall of China
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4. Great Wall of China
There is a must-see monument in every country in the world: in China, that monument runs the length of the country. The Great Wall is not just another wall, but rather an extraordinary maze of fortifications that runs the remarkable distance of 8850 km through the rugged landscape of the northern part of the country. Contrary to rumours, it is not visible from space; however, many are inclined to believe so, given its incredible length. One does not need to walk it entirely (only a few brave people have done so) to be overwhelmed by the feeling that it is an indestructible construction.
The Taj Mahal
5. Taj Mahal, India
How do you achieve perfection in architecture? Ideally, start with an expanse of white marble. Add splendid decorations inspired by Islamic tradition, made by setting a profusion of semi-precious stones into the marble. Choose a picturesque location near a sacred river and further enhance it with magnificent ornamental gardens. Apply perfect symmetry and pack it all into a romantic, immortal love story. And here you have the Taj Mahal. Built by Shah Jahan in memory of his beloved wife Mumtaz Mahal, the Taj has been attracting visitors for centuries. At the behest of his ambitious son, the hapless ruler spent his last years locked up in the Agra Fort, from where he could see the Taj and regret what he had lost.
Sunsets over the Grand Canyon
6. Grand Canyon National Park, USA
The Grand Canyon is an immense chasm opening up in the earth's crust, allowing you a peek into two billion years of geological change and one of the most beautiful landscapes in the world; hard to remain indifferent. Blazing in the sunset light, shrouded in mist or sprinkled with snow: the Grand Canyon, 446 km long and up to 1857 m deep, is a cathedral erected by nature. Standing on the rim of this immense gorge, you will feel tiny and mighty, thrilled and serene, admiring and dumbfounded.
View of the Colosseum on a sunny day
7. Colosseum, Italy
Nothing is better than a monument of ancient Rome to awaken the dormant historian within us, and the Colosseum is unrivalled in this respect. Built to celebrate power, even in its most ruthless facets, this amphitheatre capable of seating up to 50,000 spectators is the most significant testimony to the hegemony achieved by Rome. In here, gladiators challenged each other to duels to the last breath and condemned men fought ferocious beasts in front of a jubilant, bloodthirsty audience. And two thousand years later, the Flavian amphitheatre still exerts the same immortal fascination on anyone who sets foot in it.
Iguazú Falls, Brazil-Argentina
8. Iguazú Falls, Brazil-Argentina
The Guaraní name for the point where the waters of the Río Iguazú form a waterfall before flowing into the Río Paraná is reductive, to say the least: it means 'big water'. Big? These waterfalls are incredible: the tourist boats look like toothpicks in comparison. For an adrenalin rush, approach them using the footbridges. Besides the waterfalls, the Iguazú park also protects a magnificent rainforest inhabited by jaguars.
Alhambra, Spain
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Andalusia
9. AlhambraSpain
The Alhambra complex in Granada, of admirable architectural perfection, is probably the finest expression of Islamic art in the world and the symbol of 800 years of enlightened Moorish rule over medieval Spain. Its towers tower above the city's other buildings, and its red walls, from which the foliage of elms and cypresses sprout, stand out against the backdrop of the snow-capped peaks of the Sierra Nevada. Inside the Alhambra is a complex system of exquisitely decorated palaces and irrigated gardens, which have always been the source of legends and stories.
Aya Sofya in Turkey
10. Aya Sofya, Turkey
Church, mosque and museum: Aya Sofya is a unique building that defies both easy categorisation and the architectural rules that applied when it was built 1500 years ago. It was commissioned by the Byzantine emperor Justinian I, who dreamed of a cathedral that would make those in Rome pale and represent the grandeur of the heavenly kingdoms on earth. Justinian had his wish granted, and to this day Aya Sofya dominates the skyline of modern İstanbul.