When it comes to naming the world’s greatest hits, seven seems like an awfully small number. Especially considering only one of the seven original, ancient wonders is still standing — the Great Pyramid of Giza. In 2007, a Swiss foundation put it to the public to nominate a new crop of modern wonders, seizing the long overdue opportunity to recognize some of the most iconic sites on the planet today. Millions voted, declaring the following wonders worthier than the rest — unsurprisingly, all seven are UNESCO World Heritage sites. From most famous citadel to the former stomping grounds of fiercest gladiators, these are the historic, iconic, and immensely photogenic new Seven Wonders of the World.

Photo:The is a labor of love. Emperor Shah Jahan built it in honor of his favorite wife, Mumtaz Mahal, who bore 14 children but died in labor. Jahan was lost without her, and in 1631, he began construction on what is probably the world’s most elaborate and expensive mausoleum (though the tomb itself is unadorned per Muslim law). Construction required a rumored some 20,000 laborers and 1,000 elephants, who hauled marble from all over the region. The Taj is famously symmetrical, which is part of why it’s so beautiful to look at and photograph.

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It you go, go for sunrise before it gets. Photo:Petra comes from the ancient Greek “Petros,” meaning “rock,” which is a boring name for a very not boring place. Is in the south of between the Dead Sea and the Red Sea, a few hours’ drive from the capital city, Amman, and it’s believed to have been established around 300 BC.To access it, you have to walk about 15 minutes through a narrow canyon called the Siq. Exiting the narrow passage, you’re greeted by one of the greatest sights on Earth: the Treasury. Carved into the rock face, it’s enormous and overwhelming, and the sandstone is a kaleidoscope of pinks, oranges, and reds.

The colors turn bolder and bolder at sunset, setting the city on fire — not just the Treasury but the whole city, which was forgotten until a Swiss explorer rediscovered it in 1812. Photo: /ShutterstockThe Great Wall is something of a misnomer. The wall is not actually continuous but many walls built at different times and for different reasons; many were joined together, but gaps still exist. Some parts of the wall feel newer and almost pristine — these were built during the Ming Dynasty when the Ming were at war with Mongolians around the 1300s.

The older walls date back as far as 700 BC, and these sections show their age today. Still, the Great Wall weaves and winds over the hills where borders, measuring about 20,000 kilometers (12,427 miles) and crossing nine provinces. Photo: /ShutterstockThe Great Wall of China is a popular day trip from, with the restored Badaling and Mutianyu sections only 1.5 hours away and accessible by car or bus. Both are outfitted with cable cars to save visitors a steep trek up, making them good options for most travelers.

Wild, unrestored sections like Jiankou, about two and a half hours from Beijing, attract more experienced hikers and may require a tour guide. Tickets to the Great Wall cost about $6.50, plus another $17.50 or so for the round-trip cable car ride.

Photo: /ShutterstockThe Colosseum is open from 8:30 AM to an hour before sunset every day. Standard admission is about $13 and allows access to the Colosseum, Roman Forum, and Palatine Hill. Tickets can be purchased on site, but there’s a good chance the line will be unbearably long. Consider buying a from a tourist office for free entry to your first two stops in the city, discounts on visits to subsequent attractions, and free transportation.

Passholders can make a reservation at the Colosseum for a $2 fee and skip the line altogether. Machu Picchu, Peru. The battle cats plush.