A 365-DAY LONG JOURNEY TO VISIT THE WORLD FAR AND WIDE
There is one desire shared by all travelers, a dream that actually encompasses as many as 7: travel in search of the 7 wonders of the world. This is not an aspiration within everyone’s reach; of course, to accomplish such a feat would first and foremost require money and time, as well as boundless culture, off-the-charts adventurous spirit, and above all, iron health. In any case, it costs nothing to dream.
Remaining in the fantastic world of the possible, and continuing to work with imagination, we might assume that we have fortunate enough to benefit from a year off that exempts us from work and the commitments of daily life. As well as a substantial amount of money won in the national lottery. At this point, assuming we are in great physical shape, we would be in possession of the basic requirements for continuing to dream about the adventure of our lives.
What are the 7 wonders of the world?
By convention there are two lists of 7 wonders of the world: the 7 wonders of the ancient world and the 7 wonders of the modern world. The list of ancient ones includes the Pyramid of Cheops, the Hanging Gardens of ancient Babylon, the Statue of Zeus at Olympia, the Temple of Artemis at Ephesus in Turkey, the Mausoleum of Halicarnassus, the Colossus of Rhodes and the Lighthouse of Alexandria.
The 7 wonders of the modern world, on the other hand, are:
- 1) The city of Petra in Jordan.
- 2) The Taj Mahal
- 3) The Forbidden City of Beijing
- 4) The Great Wall of China
- 5) Christ the Redeemer
- 6) The Machu Picchu
- 7) Chichen Itzá
Please note: For obvious reasons, these last 7 wonders will be the stops on our hypothetical dream trip.
The fantastic journey search for the 7 wonders of the modern world
A trip to visit the wonders of the ancient world would be relatively easier to arrange, as these are concentrated among Greece, Turkey, Iran/Iraq, and North Africa. Compared to traveling in search of the 7 Wonders of the Modern World, which are instead spread over a much wider space corresponding roughly to Asia, South America, and Central America. Anyway, since imagination knows no bounds, we will attempt this great feat.
First, we should choose an itinerary that allows us to travel as little space as possible, avoiding bouncing between continents. Assuming we start from Italy, logically, the first stop should be the City of Petra in Jordan, which is the least distant wonder. Therefore, the first continent to reach on our journey in search of the 7 wonders might be Asia.
THE 4 WONDERS OF ASIA
1) The city of Petra is the most important archaeological site in Jordan. It is located near the Dead Sea about 250 km from Jordan’s capital, Amman, carved into the rock of a plateau about 900 meters above sea level. A very ancient site, dating back more than 2,000 years, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is considered one of the 7 wonders of the world for its architecture carved into the rock that make it a unique and mysterious place. Having finished the site visit to the city of Petra, the nearest place and next stop on our journey can only be India where the Taj Mahal is located
2) The Taj Mahal literally Crown Palace, is an imposing mausoleum located in the city of Agra in the state of Uttar Pradesh north of India. Completed in 1654 after a full 22 years of work by Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan, the Taj Mahal is a funerary monument dedicated to the emperor’s wife, Mumtaz Mahal, who died in 1631. It is considered one of the 7 wonders of the world as an example of supreme deity among Muslim monuments.
After discovering the first two destinations of the journey to discover the seven wonders of the modern world, staying on the Asian continent, we will have to head north to China, which is home to as many as 2 of the 7 wonders: the Forbidden City of Beijing and the Great Wall of China.
3) The Forbidden City of Beijing is located in the center of Beijing, is considered the most impressive set of government palaces in the world, built in 1420 was a place for the exclusive use of the Chinese emperors of the Ming and Qing. This place was totally forbidden for subjects to enter. Even family members of emperors and government officials could only access certain areas and with many restrictions. The Forbidden City is an impressive site that houses a huge amount of Chinese art, as well as the largest existing collection of artifacts and ancient wooden structures on earth.
4) The Great Wall of China is an immense barrier that has now reached a length of as much as 220000 km built to defend China’s northern borders. It is about 90 km from Beijing (the nearest portion), Construction of the Great Wall of China began in 1368; it was initially shorter than the present wall, according to the widespread vulgate it would be visible even from space. It is included in this special list of wonderful places because of its grandeur, as well as being an outstanding work of engineering and architecture.
THE 3 WONDERS OF THE AMERICAS
After visiting the first 4 Asian wonders of the world our very long journey continues to South America where the remaining 3 are located. Flying with imagination has always been one of the peculiarities of humankind, so it will certainly not be difficult to reach Rio, Peru and Mexico. Where Rio de Janeiro’s Christ the Redeemer, Machu Picchu and Chichen Itzá are located. For convenience we will start with Brazil.
5) Christ the Redeemer is the most iconic monument in South America, located in Brazil in the city of Rio De Janeiro on the Corcovado hill. It is a 38-meter-tall statue representing Jesus Christ with his arms spread wide as a sign of redemption and acceptance. Designed in the deco style, it was built in 1931 of soapstone and concrete by a team of several engineers and artists. The Christ the Redeemer is one of the 7 Wonders of the World for its beauty and importance in the skyline of Rio De Janeiro.
6) Machu Picchu is the next stop on the itinerary; it is located in neighboring Peru. It is an ‘ancient Inca construction (1200 AD) nestled in the Peruvian Andes near the city of Cusco. Machu Picchu is famous for its sophisticated architecture and its spectacular location on axis with the Sun and Moon. The Temple of the Sun, the Temple of the Moon, and the Temple of the 3 Windows are aligned in a precise order that respects certain astronomical rules. Certainly this is a “wonderful” work in many ways.
Left South America after visiting the Christ the Redeemer in Rio de Janeiro and the impressive Inca construction of Machu Picchu, the last leg of this journey of discovery of the seven wonders of the world will end in Mexico where the Chichen Itzá.
7) Chichen Itzá is one of the most important archaeological sites in the world, located in Mexico in the northern part of the Yucatan Peninsula. It dates back to the period Maya (450 CE) covers an area of about 3 square kilometers that includes temples, a pyramid and an astronomical observatory. The Chichen Itzá is considered one of the 7 Wonders of the Modern World for its testimony to the close relationship between the Mayan people and the science of astronomy. Still the focus of numerous studies today.
One year of traveling around the world to learn about the wonders of being human
Wish we could have a year like that. If this dream ever comes true, the best thing to do would be to devote this time to new discoveries. Traveling across the world visiting the 7 Wonders is certainly a smart and appropriate way to take advantage of a 12-month break from work. Through Jordanian deserts, Peruvian mountains, Mexican jungles and Chinese cities, it is possible to discover the beauty and diversity of our planet, but also to investigate within oneself. Actually visiting the 7 wonders of the world, obviously not in the same trip, is possible in all respects. Having a year of free time, for many, is a utopia rather than a dream, but visiting these 7 places definitely takes less time. Who knows, maybe this article will inspire some travelers.
