16 Iconic Buildings Every Architecture Lover Needs to Visit in Person

A seasoned traveler will tell you that one of the surest ways to learn about the history of a chosen destination is to look at its renowned architecture. While any location’s celebrated museums, manicured gardens, and diverse food scene offer insight into its culture, it’s the one-of-a-kind structures that create its landscape, which reveal a deeper level of its history and understanding of its people.

For as long as humans have been on this planet, architects, engineers, and everyday people have worked together to develop buildings and landmarks to withstand the test of time and give insights into their societies. Narrowing down a list of the most celebrated structures can be tricky, but the ones seen here not only act as hallmarks of the regions' architectural styles, but also offer a closer look at the people who live or once lived there.

Known as one of the most prolific architects of Catalan Modernism, Antoni Gaudí was given complete creative freedom to renovate Josep Batlló's Barcelona home in 1904. The exuberant facade was inspired by marine life with recycled stone, glass, and ceramics coming together to create three distinct sections: a base level boasting a skeletal appearance, a middle section bursting with patterns and color, and a scale-like roof. One of the most unique spaces of Casa Batlló, the loft features a series of 60 catenary arches, mimicking the ribcage of an animal.

The historic stone capital of Angkor Wat served as the center of the Khmer Empire from the 9th to 15th centuries. The towering temples acts as earthly representations of Mount Meru of the Hindu faith, where the ancient gods lived. According to inscriptions found in the city, it took nearly 300,000 workers and 6,000 elephants to create the immaculate example of classical Khmer style; although, it’s believed the project was never fully finished.

The sprawling complex was transformed into a Buddhist temple in the 14th century, with statues and paintings of Buddha placed throughout. Over the years, Angkor Wat has seen much damage from weather and war, but archaeologists are working to restore the spiritual destination to its original glory.

The origins of the Colosseum date back to 72 A.D., when emperor Vespasian originally commissioned an amphitheater on the grounds of the Domus Aurea complex. Vespasian didn’t live to see the project completed, but his son, Titus held games for 100 days and nights to inaugurate the staggering structure.

It’s said that one of those games included a staged sea battle where the Colosseum was filled with water so ships could easily move throughout. As archaeologists continue to restore the amphitheater, many believe the decorative hallways, outside arches, and facade were once painted in bright colors.

Fallingwater stands as one of iconic architect Frank Lloyd Wright’s most celebrated projects for its innate connection to nature and forward-thinking design. The extraordinary house in Mill Run, Pennsylvania, served as the weekend getaway for the Kaufmann family, who originally envisioned it to be placed across from the waterfall.

Wright, inspired by traditional Japanese architecture, instead drew up plans for the house to be over the waterfall and positioned to look as though it was one with the natural rock formations. In 1976, the home was named a National Historic Landmark, and it remains one of the most popular destinations for architectural lovers in the world.

The monumental pyramids of Giza stand as a reminder of the ancient Egyptians' innovative thinking and engineering. These tombs, filled with the belongings of Egypt's pharaohs, were erected to help guide the leaders into the afterlife.

Pharaoh Khufu began the first and largest Giza pyramid around 2550 B.C., which is thought to be made of 2.3 million stone blocks. Khufu’s son, Pharaoh Khafre, not only built the second pyramid, but also the Sphinx, whose face is said to resemble the pharaoh’s. The last and smallest tomb for Pharaoh Menkaure features a complex mortuary temple with elaborate paintings and inscriptions.

Proudly standing over the modern city of Athens, the Acropolis gives insights into the ancient world and craftsmanship of the Greeks. The Parthenon, the most celebrated example of classical Greek architecture, was the first of the series of buildings on top the hill. Construction for the temple, dedicated to the goddess Athena, began in 447 B.C., as statesman Pericles sought to build a prosperous new capital after the war against the Persians. Soon after the completion of the Parthenon, Pericles commissioned the Propylea, or gateway, to act as the sole entrance to the magnificent city-state.

The renowned marble-clad mausoleum in Agra was built as an act of love. Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan commissioned the Taj Mahal in 1632 as monumental tomb for his beloved wife, Mumtaz Mahal, who died during childbirth.

One of the most impressive attributes of the Mughal structure is its seamless symmetry, from its minarets flanking the domed tomb to the central pool and gardens. Additionally, the minarets surrounding the tombs appear to be standing upright, but they actually lean outward to prevent them from damaging the main crypt in case of a disaster.

On October 16, 1834, a fire ripped through the Palace of Westminster in London, destroying the seat of the U.K.'s parliament. A new complex of elaborate buildings embodying the greatness of the country and the roots of democracy was needed, and a competition was held to find the ideal architect.

Charles Barry, the man behind Highclere Castle, won with his vision of a staggering Gothic Revival structure housing an octagonal central hall and two imposing towers. Though the project faced many delays and scrutiny from members of Parliament, the new Palace of Westminster was finally completed in 1867 and quickly became a remarkable symbol of not only of London, but of the Commonwealth.

Nicknamed the Blue Mosque for its expansive walls decked out in Iznik tiles, the Sultan Ahmet Mosque was commissioned by ruler Ahmet I in 1609. The chosen location of the mosque, facing the Hagia Sophia and hippodrome, caused controversy, as it required many established palaces of Ottoman leaders to be demolished. The structure features five main domes, six minarets, eight secondary domes, and 20,000 tiles inside. It’s important to remember the mosque still holds religious gatherings to this day, so make sure to respect the prayer schedule and dress code as you plan your visit.

Designed by famed architect William Van Alen, this Art Deco landmark stands 77 floors tall with eagles of chromium nickel overlooking New York City. Its staggering height is in part thanks to a career-long rivalry between Van Alen and his former design partner, H. Craig Severance, who was commissioned at the same time to design a tower for the Manhattan Company.

In a race to build the tallest skyscraper in New York City, Van Alen ultimately won after having the 27-ton steel spire made in secret and added to officially make it the tallest building in the world at the time. Today, the Chrysler Building remains as one of the world’s most famous skyscrapers and a hallmark of New York City.

Deep within South Africa’s wine country, an eye-catching chapel by Coetzee Steyn of Steyn Studio seamlessly blends Cape Dutch architecture with modern, more sustainable style. The curvaceous cast-concrete shell evokes the surrounding Waaihoek Mountains and pays tribute to the historic gables in the rural communities of the Western Cape. In order to keep the structure’s sculptural appearance sound, Steyn cleverly hid supportive elements in the plinth and inside the outer corners of the neighboring garden.

Spanning across a forested gorge on the border of Colombia and Ecuador, La Lajas Sanctuary boasts an origin story as miraculous as its location. The tale says that Amerindian Maria Meneses de Quiñones and her deaf-mute daughter Rosa found themselves caught in a brutal storm near the gorge in 1754. Hiding under the rocks, the women saw an illuminated figure thought to be the Virgin Mary above the rocks. Instantaneously, Rosa was able both hear and speak, and their story spread throughout the region. After reports of similar miracles happening to those who visited Las Lajas, it was decided in 1916 a neo-Gothic church would be built among the green cliffs and cascading waterfall.

During the height of the 20th-century rubber boom, business elites sought to re-create the lavish lifestyle seen across Europe by building an extravagant opera house in the Amazon. Furniture from Paris, marble and glass from Italy, and nearly 36,00 decorated tiles were called in to create blush beauty in Manaus, but its days as a thriving opera house were numbered.

Not long after its first performance in 1897, the invention of artificial rubber led to the wealthy leaving the Brazilian city and the opera house they worked so hard to build. Luckily, in 2001, a new populist government of the Amazon region funded a project to restore the theater and bring entertainment back into the area. Today, Teatro Amazonas is home to the Amazon Philharmonic orchestra and hosts an annual film festival.

Believe or not, the bursts of bright colors and mesmerizing patterns on the facade and domes of St. Basil's Cathedral weren’t always there. Ivan the Terrible ordered the construction of a grand cathedral in 1554 to honor his victories against the armies of Kazan and Astrakahn. Originally, St. Basil's was said to be white with gold domes to match the colors and stone of the Kremlin. However, about a century after its completion, the cathedral was painted a rainbow of colors based on a vibrant description of heaven found in the Book of Revelation.

The tallest twin towers in the world stand inaugurated in 1996 as a symbol of Malaysia’s path modernization and innovation. Architect César Pelli designed the floor base to resemble an eight-point star, the Islamic symbol for unity, harmony, stability, and rationality. Additionally, the interiors pull strongly from other areas of Malaysian culture. Many patterns throughout can also been seen in songket cloth weaving.

An architectural marvel, the Leaning Tower of Pisa’s infamous tilt stems from the land's soft ground and shifting soil. The white marble bell tower has been tilting since its completion in 1372.

The city of Pisa set out to reimagine its Piazza del Duomo as an internationally renowned landmark during the 12th century. After expanding the existing duomo and adding a baptistry, the region’s most celebrated architects began constructing the bell tower on marsh-like soil, only later to discover the tower was leaning on the southern side. For centuries, engineers have attempted to correct the lean, but the city instead embraced its odd appearance, making it the famous landmark it was always intended to be.