With the invention of smart phones and smaller digital cameras, travel photography is more accessible than ever. Whether professional or amateur photographers, people love to capture the places they visit.
Here is our list of the ten most photographed places in the world. It’s interesting to note that most are in Western Europe or USA, with only one exception.
10. Colosseum – Italy, Rome
The largest Amphitheatre in the world (and has been since its construction) is the oldest architectural wonder on our list. Founded in 70 AD, it is over 1942 years old, and will celebrate its two-century anniversary in 58 years. Jewish slaves had built it from travertine limestone, concrete bricks, and volcanic rock. In its heyday, 80,000 people could spectate events such as gladiatorial battles, executions, and even mock sea battles. During the medieval period, it changed from a place of entertainment to a fortress, shrine and living quarters.
Unlike other Roman amphitheaters, usually built into hillsides, this is a free-standing structure. The arena measured 83 m x 48 m, and had a floor made of wood, covered by sand. Underneath sat tunnels and cages to keep the people and animals until needed. Nowadays, it serves as one of the most visited landmarks in Rome. It is one of the 7 wonders of the world, and one that had sustained much damage from earthquakes and theft.
2019 = 7.6 million visitors
NB – If you were a Roma citizen, entry was free, and sometimes free food was provided.
9. Sagrada Familia – Barcelona, Spain
One of the world’s most amazing architectural achievements is the Basílica de la Sagrada Familia in the Spanish region of Catalonia. From visiting Barcelona, you see many buildings designed by Antoni Gaudi, a Catalan modernist architect. Currently, this is the largest, unfinished Roman Catholic church in the world. It isn’t set for completion until after 2026 (centenary of Gaudi’s death). The minor Basilica encompasses gothic revival and Art Nouveau styles and is heavily based on the elements of nature.
Some of the most detailed parts of the church are the grand facades, which there are three of. The Nativity, Passion and Glory face east, west and south respectively, with the former being the only one completed in Gaudi’s lifetime. The museum under the church shows the ideas, drawings and processes used by Antoni in realizing his architectural dream. The final design will feature 18 spires, will reach 170 m and will host 9,000 people inside.
2019 = 4.5 million visitors
NB – Gaudi, the architect, is buried inside the Basilica.
8. Times Square – New York, USA
The first square on our list is also called ‘the heart of the world’; Times Square. Unlike other famous squares throughout the world, TS is a commercial zone that encompasses traffic and huge, neon advertisements. The bowtie shaped area sits in central New York in midtown, Manhattan. The name comes from The New York Times, a newspaper that relocated here in 1904. This forced the name change from the original Longacre Square. Since 1907, it has been the site of the annual New Year’s ball drop, making it one of the most popular places in the USA.
Times Square doesn’t have a uniform square shape. It connects with Duffy Square, another triangular space, and together form the special shape. Once a place associated with horses and carriages, it changed many times until the 80s where the area saw a commercial boom. Now restaurants and ‘Broadway’ theatres border the square. It is the only place in NY that large, visual advert billboards have permission for display.
2019 = 50 million visitors
NB – Lincoln highway, starting in Times Square, was the first road for motorized vehicles in the USA.
7. St. Peters Basilica – Rome, Italy
The Basilica of St. Peter sits in the Vatican, an independent papal city state surrounded by the city of Rome. Constructed by Constantine the Great, the Roman emperor at the time, in the fourth century. The modern renaissance style Basilica started construction in 1506 and completed 120 years later. Principally designed by four Italian architects; Bramante, Maderno, Bernini and the one name you heard of - Michelangelo.
St. Peters Basilica isn’t the most important church, but regarded as one of the holiest. The name comes from Peter (the chief apostle) as the church is his burial site. His tomb is directly below the altar of confession or high altar. The shape of the basilica is in crucifix form, and the largest church in the world by the size of its interior. It also influenced other notable churches in the Christian western world.
2019 = 10 million visitors
NB – Lots of materials (particularly bronze) were stolen from other Roman building for its construction.
6. Burj Khalifa – Dubai, United Arab Emirates
If there is one architectural wonder on our list that needs no introduction, it’s the Burj Khalifa in Dubai. The original name of Burj Dubai changed when the late Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan provided money to finish the construction. Since its 5-year construction was completed in 2009, it has been the largest man-made structure in the world at a height of 829.8 m. The team led by Adrian Smith of Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (Sears/Willis) were tasked with the spiraling design. This kept the style within the realms of Islamic architecture.
Out of 163 floors, there are floors dedicated to hotels, restaurants, residences. Not to mention mechanical floors, the awe-inspiring observation decks, sky lobbies and corporate suites. The tower is so high, that the sun sets a few minutes later at the top than it does at the bottom. There temperature is also significantly cooler the higher you ascend. It set several world records, the most interesting being World's longest travel distance elevators (504 m).
2019 = 6.19 million visitors 2019 = 6.19 million visitors
NB – It also has the worlds longest vertical plumbing system
5. Trafalgar Square – London, UK
Trafalgar square is the second square on our list where we find empty space as an important element. This meeting point is common for tourists, lunch-eating and protests. Found in Westminster, central London and in the heart of the city. What makes this square special is the name, the buildings surrounding the square and the items in the square itself. The name comes from a famous naval battle between the British and the French/Spanish in 1805, off the coast of Cape Trafalgar. In fact, Admiral Nelson of the British Navy is the center column (52 m high) In the 12,000 m2 square.
Surrounding the square is the National Gallery (north side) and the church St. Martin-in-the-Fields (east side). Diplomatic missions South Africa House, (east side) faces Canada House (west side). The Mall (southwest side) is a road that links Trafalgar Square with Admiralty Arch and then Buckingham Palace. There are many sculptures, that sit in the square featuring George V and Generals Napier, Havelock. A fourth plinth shows temporary works of art.
2019 = 15 million visitors
NB – Since 1947, Norway donates a Christmas tree each year in appreciation of Britain’s support during WWII.
4. Empire State Building – New York, USA
The Empire State Building is one of the most Iconic buildings in the USA. Yet unlike others, doesn’t sit in the capital of the country. Instead, it sits grandly in Midtown Manhattan in New York City, otherwise called the Big Apple. Architects Shreve, Lamb & Harmon designed the 102 story Art-Deco building which finished in 1931. The name ‘Empire State’ is the office state name for New York, and the tallest skyscraper until 1970. The 443.2 m (1,454 feet) building came second to the World Trade Centre.
The Art-Deco style was a common pre-war architectural style throughout New York. The limestone from Indiana gives the ESB its signature sandy color. 5,700 cubic meters of it was used alongside granite. There is a total of 1,000,000 cubic meters of space inside for observation decks and businesses, such as Shutterstock, alike.
2019 = 3.5 million visitors
NB – In 2011, university students from Cornell concluded that the Empire State Building wa the most photographed building in the world
3. Louvre – Paris, France
This is the most visited art museum in the world, and another iconic landmark in the French capital. Its easy to see why; it houses some of the best-known works of art. The Mona Lisa by Leonardo, Madonna and Child by Donatello, Dying Slave by Michelangelo and John the Baptist by Raffaello, to name a few. The Louvre Museum is housed in the Louvre palace – the primary residence of former French kings. It became the royal collection when Louis XIV chose to live in Versailles, the museum opening in 1793.
The most iconic part of its architecture is the underground entrance under a 21.6 m high glass and metal pyramid. This was designed by Chinese American architect I. M. Pei and completed in 1988. 38,000 pieces of art sit inside the museum at any one time, in the 72,000 sqm of space. Approximately 2/3rds of the artwork inside came from French artists.
2019 = 2.8 million visitors
NB – Not to be confused with the 2016 Louvre in Abu Dhabi
2. Big Ben – London, UK
Most people know the clock tower of the Palace of Westminster in London as Big Ben. But, Big Ben is the colloquial name for the bell; the tower itself became Elizabeth Tower a decade ago. The neo-gothic wonder was finished in 1859 at a height of 96 m (316 feet) and was the third biggest clock in the UK. It was the most accurate four-faced striking and chiming clock in the world. All four nations of the UK are represented; England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.
The architect Charles Barry rebuilt West Minster Palace, which had been fatally damaged during a fire. He turned to Augustus Pugin due to his designs of a similar tower - Scarisbrick Hall in Lancashire. This Anston limestone marvel is topped with hundreds of cast iron rooftiles and continues to be the cultural symbol for the UK.
2019 = 3 million visitors
NB – Only UK residents can visit the Tower
1. Eiffel Tower – Paris, France
Paris; the city of love. Made famous by not only the black and white films of the 60’s, but also the iconic Eiffel Tower. Unsurprisingly, due to its height of 330 meters (1,083 ft), it’s the one visible landmark throughout the whole city. It’s a wrought iron marvel that took two years to build (finished in 1889), just in time to become the center piece of the world’s fair. The "La dame de fer" (Iron Lady) wasn’t to be a permanent structure. Yet, since a radio antenna was placed on top (reaching 6,000 km), the lease was prolonged.
Not only was it the tallest manmade structure for 40 years, but it also still has the highest observation deck for public use in the entire EU. The architecture wonder is attributed to Gustave Eiffel and his construction team. Their design beat many in the competition leading up to the event.
2019 = 6 million visitors
NB – Professional photographers need to pay usage fees to capture the Eiffel tower at night, due to the trademarked light show.