New Seven Wonders of the World, Contenders, Winners, Facts & Information

The New Seven Wonders of the World

What would a new list of the world's architectural wonders look like?

Check out the video of the winners, below, as well as more information on the top contenders ...

The New Seven Wonders

As every school child knows, the traditional Seven Wonders of the Ancient World was a list compiled more than 2,000 years ago by Greek philospher Philon of Byzantium, who acted as one of the world's first travel guides.

Philon's seven ancient "must sees" included the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, the Colossus at Rhodes, the Lighthouse of Alexandria, the Statue of Zeus at Olympia, the Temple of Artemis at Ephesus, the Mausoleum at Halicarnassus, and the Great Pyramid at Giza.

Why a New Seven Wonders of the World?

Today, only the Great Pyramid of Giza survives as one of the original great wonders, a fact which has prompted a new list of the world's outstanding architectural treasures.

The idea is not without controversy, as some historians perceive it as an effort to dim the time-honored importance of the traditional Seven Ancient Wonders. However, leading architects are strongly in favor of the drive which they claim will help renew interest in efforts to preserve still-existing wonders for future generations.

Online voting took place at the New7Wonders Foundation where 90 million votes were cast over several months among the final 21 nominees to define the New Seven Wonders of the World for centuries to come.

New Seven Wonders of the World
Taj Mahal, India
Great Wall of China
Petra, Jordan
Christ Redeemer statue, Rio de Janeiro
Machu Picchu, Peru
Colosseum, Rome
Chichen Itza, Yucatan, Mexico
Great Pyramid at Giza, Egypt - (honorary)

More Seven Wonders Contenders
Acropolis, Greece
Alhambra Palace, Granada, Spain
Angkor Wat, Cambodia
Easter Island statues, Chile
Eiffel Tower, Paris
Hagia Sophia mosque, Istanbul, Turkey
Kiyomizu Temple, Kyoto, Japan
Kremlin & Red Square, Moscow, Russia
Neuschwanstein Castle, Fussen, Germany
Statue of Liberty, New York City
Stonehenge, UK
Sydney Opera House, Sydney, Australia
Timbuktu, Mali