If you have ever taken a history class, you have probably learned a few things about the ancient Seven Wonders of the World. In the last few years there has been a tremendous amount of debate regarding the naming of seven new Wonders of the World. Certainly, everyone has their opinion of which sites in the world should top the list, but popular opinion does seem to concur that the following sites are among some of the most wondrous:
The Great Wall of China
The Colosseum in Rome
The Taj Mahal
Petra in Jordan
The statue of Christ the Redeemer in Brazil
Chichen Itza pyramin in Mexico
Machu Picchu in Peru
Each of these sites has something to recommend it, whether it is the sheer size of it, as is the case with the Great Wall and the statue of Christ the Redeemer, or it is the grandeur, such as with the Taj Mahal. Other sites are revered for their historical significance while others are astounding for a combination of factors.
Machu Picchu, in Peru, is one of those sites. Situated in the Andes, Machu Picchu is believed to have served as a religious retreat and royal estate. Historians have estimated that it was constructed sometime between 1460 and 1470 by an Incan ruler. This ancient city contains about 200 buildings, most of which are residences, although there are also some public buildings, including temples. The majority of the buildings in Machu Picchu were constructed using granite blocks that were fit together without using any mortar. This is quite surprising, given the tight fit of the blocks, even today. Perhaps one of the most fascinating things about this ancient city; however, is the way in which the landscape and existing stone formations were carefully integrated into the formation of the city. Temples sit carefully perched on precipices while sculptures were painstakingly carved into rock formations.
Machu Picchu remained hidden and forgotten by the outside world following the influx of the Spanish conquistadors. It was not until 1911 that the ancient city was rediscovered by a professor from Yale.
Today Machu Picchu has been carefully preserved so that modern generations can learn more about the ancient culture that took so much care to construct such an expansive and fascinating city. Although Machu Picchu remains a difficult site to access, one of the reasons that it was able to survive in such good condition throughout the last several centuries, no visit to Peru would be complete without experiencing the beauty and majesty of Machu Picchu.
Visitors who plan to travel to Machu Picchu will need to access it from nearby Cusco. From there, visitors have four options for reaching the ancient city; by train, by foot, by bus or by helicopter. Most visitors opt to take the train to the ruins in the morning, allowing them plenty of opportunity for exploration, before returning to Cusco by train in the afternoon. If you are feeling adventurous, hiking the Inca Trail is another option that allows you to reach the city via the Sun Gate. Visitors who choose this option sleep in tents and can opt for either a two day or a four day hike. There are also frequent bus runs as well as direct helicopter flights that will take visitors into Machu Picchu.
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