6. Dohány Street Synagogue, Budapest, Hungary
Also known as the Great Synagogue of Budapest, this 19th-century temple is the largest surviving synagogue in Europe, following the destruction of the Warsaw Synagogue at the hands of the Nazis. The synagogue was built in a style that incorporates Moorish and Christian elements and serves the Neolog Jewish community, a progressive denomination of Judaism in Hungary.
7. Meenakshi Temple, Madurai, India
This resplendent temple is dedicated to Meenakshi, an avatar of the goddess Parvati, the consort of Shiva, and it is most notable for its towering gates, adorned with dozens of figures, the tallest of which rises up to 170 feet, and it is built according to Tamil tradition which is unique to South India.
8. Bibi-Khanym Mosque, Samarkand, Uzbekistan
This magnificent mosque was erected at the request of the great and terrifying warlord Tamerlane, and it is among the largest and most beautiful mosques in the world. This important and historic monument is truly striking with its twin gates adorned with beautifully-ornate mosaics.
9. Saint Stephen’s Cathedral, Vienna, Austria
In a city full of majestic palaces, this medieval gothic cathedral still manages to stand out as uniquely beautiful with its awesome steeple and colorfully-tiled roof. As beautiful, ornate and imposing as the cathedral is from outside, it is even more awe-inspiring from the inside. The charred segments of the exterior wall are a reminder of the damage the building sustained during WWII.
10. Angkor Wat, Siem Reap, Cambodia
This marvelous temple complex has a long and storied history and was initially built and dedicated to the Hindu god Vishnu, later becoming a Buddhist temple. As a shining example of Khmer architecture, the temple has become a national symbol of Cambodia, even appearing on the country’s flag. The complex houses countless beautiful statues and stone reliefs.
