Visiting historical places

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The Cathedral of Vasily the Blessed, more commonly known as Saint Basil’s Cathedral, is instantly recognizable. It’s come to be synonymous with Russian culture, although curiously, its architecture is quite unique from the rest of the nation. The cathedral was built between 1555 and 1561 on the orders of Ivan the Terrible in order to commemorate two successful battles. 
Originally an Orthodox Christian church, the cathedral is now primarily in use as a museum, with the occasional prayer service. It’s also a designated World Heritage Site. People flock to the cathedral to witness its magnificent architecture, representing a bonfire rising into the sky, with their own eyes.
Nestled among a mountainous region in the south of Spain, this picturesque palace and fortress complex has a storied history. The Alhambra was built in 889 on top of ancient Roman ruins, only to be neglected until the 13th century, when it was rebuilt by an emir of the Nasrid dynasty. At the time, Granada was under Muslim rule. When Spaniards regained control of the territory, the Alhambra was used as the Royal Court of Ferdinand and Isabella. Now it attracts tourists from all over the world with its amazing display of architecture.
In broader terms, the city of Granada itself is also a fascinating place to visit. Christians, Muslims, and Jews vied for control of the site for centuries, and now live together in the culturally rich city. Writer Washington Irving spent some time in Granada; his book below sheds light on its complex history.
China’s Forbidden City is actually a palace complex, not a city—although its enormous size lends credence to the name. The complex has 980 buildings over 178 acres, and according to UNESCO, it has the largest collection of preserved ancient wooden structures in the world. It was built between 1406 and 1420 and was used as the home of Chinese emperors, as well as the Chinese seat of government, for 500 years. On average, the Forbidden City receives 14 million visitors a year—perhaps you can be one of them. You already know what and where these are, right? While we may still not know exactly how they were built, this pyramid complex has sat at the center of human imagination for centuries. The Giza Pyramids are made up of three large and three smaller pyramids, as well as the sculpture of the Great Sphinx. Learn more about Egypt's mysterious history by reading The Pyramids by Miroslav Verner below. While you can no longer enter inside the stone circle at Stonehenge, you can still get pretty close to one of the world's most famous megalithic structures. Located in the midst of a large series of prehistoric earthworks, the Salisbury-adjacent structure includes hundreds of burial mounds. The precise origin and function of Stonehenge remains hotly debated to this day.
While you’re up north in England, consider also checking out the henge at Avebury. That massive circle is over 1,000 feet in diameter. In many ways, it’s even more impressive than Stonehenge. Perhaps best known as the entrance to the resting place of the Holy Grail in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, Petra actually has a somewhat uncertain history. The city was carved into the side of a canyon in present-day Jordan. Also called the Rose City, it remains remarkably well-preserved centuries after its initial construction. It is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Petra was also named one of the New Seven Wonders of the World. Made famous by countless beautiful photographs, the ruined Incan city of Machu Picchu is located in a relatively inhospitable location. The city perches on top of a mountain accessible only by train or a four-day hike. Despite this, it is such a popular tourist destination that limitations have recently been placed on how many people can visit at a time, in order to help preserve the incredible ruins.