The 21 finalists
Click on the links to read Times and Sunday Times travel guides to each
destination.
1 Acropolis
(Athens, Greece)
2 Alhambra
(Granada, Spain)
3 Angkor
(Cambodia)
4 Chichen
Itza (Yucatan, Mexico)
5 Christ
Redeemer (Rio de Janiero)
6 Colosseum
(Rome)
7 Easter
Island Statues (Chile)
8 Eiffel
Tower (Paris)
9 Great
Wall (China)
10 Hagia
Sophia (Istanbul)
11 Kiyomizu
Temple (Kyoto, Japan)
12 Kremlin/St
Basil (Moscow)
13 Machu
Picchu (Peru)
14 Neuschwanstein
Castle (Germany)
15 Petra
(Jordan)
16 Pyramids
of Giza (Egypt)
17 Statue
of Liberty (New York)
18 Stonehenge
(England)
19 Sydney
Opera House (Australia)
20 Taj
Mahal (Agra, India)
21 Timbuktu
(Mali)
The contest has generated enthusiasm in countries such as India and Brazil,
which are keen for the Taj Mahal and Rio’s statue of Christ to be included.
But, with only four days yet to run, it has left some of the developed world
cold. Stonehenge and Sydney Opera House may fail to make the list because of
British and Australian apathy.
Bernard Weber, a Swiss-Canadian film-maker and aviator, came up with the idea
of www.new7wonders.com to reflect
the architecture of the modern world.
The original Seven Wonders were chosen by Antipater of Sidon, who drew on the
authority of such learned travellers as Herodotus and Callimachus. The list
included the Colossus of Rhodes and the Hanging Gardens of Babylon and were
found only around the Mediterranean, the limits of the Western world.
Four Wonders were destroyed in earthquakes and two in fires. Few can list them
today. To find their modern successors, 21 finalists were drawn up from
submissions.
There have been more than 70 million votes so far. The winning list will be
revealed on Saturday. Some critics contend that the winners will be based on
nationalism rather than architectural or historical merit.
A current shoo-in is the Taj Mahal, thanks to a national campaign in India.
Petra in Jordan has soared up the list after a campaign led by the Jordanian
Royal Family; and Rio’s statue of Christ the Redeemer received official
endorsement from President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.
The Peruvian Government encouraged votes for the ruined Inca city of Machu
Picchu by setting up free internet terminals. Co-ca-Cola cans in Mexico are
carrying adverts calling on people to vote for the Mayan ruins of Chichen
Itza.
The Great Wall of China, which was excluded from the original Seven Wonders
because it was unknown to the Ancient Greeks, may fail a second time because
of Chinese apathy.
The results will be announced in Lisbon on Saturday July 7. The ranking of the
top seven wonders is to be kept secret.
The remains of the ancient city of Pompeii . A truly amazing experience to walk in the footsteps of the ancients. It is a wonder that such a devastating natural catasrophy held this microcosm of Roman society in a natural time capsule for future generations to experience.
angela , manchester,
Call me cynical but isn't this more a case of "which country has the most patriotic citizens"?
justin, Surrey,
<quote>Surprise, surprise no mosques then ?
Not the first time America has tried to edit history.<quote>
This was not even head up by Americans. Do a little research before you start bashing countries!
CC, Boston, USA
<quote>
Surprise, surprise no mosques then ?
Not the first time America has tried to edit history.</quote
Sorry for the pedantry Peter,the Aya Sophia was a mosque for the best part of 500 years - although it was a church before this... I like to think the place provides a poignant reflection of the nuances of faith and empire.
Boz, Cardiff, Wales
what kind of history would the colosseum in rome will give ? maybe the tortures of people or the killings of gladiators or the hangings of christians . think about it because it was voted one of the new seven wonders of the world and the acropolis in athens that gave so much to this world was left out .
it is an embarassment to the modern civilization . well what do i know . democracy came out of the colosseum i guess. thank you for your time .
vasilios tsakanikas , astoria, ny usa
Surprise, surprise no mosques then ?
Not the first time America has tried to edit history.
peter mcphee, Dumbarton, Scotland
why anybody would rather have the colosseum in rome as one of the new 7 wonders where so much killing and torture went on and on .On the other side acropolis in athens where democracy was born and civilization started was left out . I believe justice was not served in this case at all.
thanks
vasilios tsakanikas , astoria, ny usa
Monica Bellucci, Kelly Brook etc are the only wonders left on this planet.
Heterosexual males form a significant chunk of the world's population. Their views must be considered and catered for.
Good looking women are the only wonders left in this dark,gloomy,materialisic,selfish and terrorist world.
Khan, London, UK
well,at least timbuktu has a historical claim to the title unlike some national icons eg the statue of liberty or the opera house in Sidney.If so that would mean that Dubai and other upcoming cities would construct monstrous edifices than lay a claim to having the said structures as 'a modern wonder of the world'
david gicheru, nakuru, Kenya
Stonehenge - It's a shame that this article, from an English paper, does little to promote Stonehenge, or at least provide the details of the voting website so that its readers in England, or indeed anywhere, can easily cast their votes. The apathy may have been addressed with perhaps a little encouragement and publicity.
Jenn, Taunton,
In response to Emma: Surely you would agree that most of these great structures are "a cause of astonishment or admiration" (thank you Merriam-Webster) ?
I would love to sit by any of these for one hour, and simply enjoy them.
Vincent, Dublin, Ireland
Of course nationalism will render the project meaningless. In South Africa, the (state) radio network is at present running a government placed advertisement, urging all South Africans to dial a toll free number and register a vote for Timbuktu, as the only "African nomination".
Pan Africanist humbug!
Deon Irish
Deon Irish, Cape Town, South Africa
What about the Netherlands? The whole country was created from the North Sea. I´m impressed by that. That definitely beats the Eiffel Tower, come on.
Ryan, Loughborough, England
The Vatican smells a conspiracy so something must be going right.Maybe another war can be started over this list.
ron, toronto,
I nominate the Underground limestone Caves located in the caribbean Island of Barbados.
This natural constellation of stalactites, stalagmites and waterfalls, and other natural wonders can now be enjoyed in the comfort and safety of electrically powered trams.
Truly one of the great wonders of the world, deserving of a place in the first seven, as many of the visitors to the Cricket World cup Final who took in the Caves Tour will attest.
Ezra Alleyne, Bridgetown, Barbados
The Great Wall of China was and is and will be the greatest structure in the world. It's ridiculous if GWC can not be among the so-called new 7 wonders of the world.
M.F.Lau, Hongkong, China
May I second Ross, Westland, New Zealand, my mother was born there.
Peter J Smith, Timaru, New Zealand
Alhambra, Alhambra, Alhambra .....
James , Inverness,
I think it should be named the seven greatest structures. Wonders, they are not.
Emma, Ottawa, CAN
It will be interesting to view the results. Will the West's endless self-loathing be a factor?
Robert, Savannah,
I think it should be named the seven greatest structures. Wonders, they are not.
Emma, Ottawa, CAN
Stonehenge
Pyramids of Giza
Angkhor
Petra
Easter Island statues
Taj Mahal
Machu Picchu
Piers Chapman, Baton Rouge, USA
I nominate the town of
Ross,
West Coast of New Zealand.
gene, Sydney,
Stonehenge is part of the heritage of the UK, not just England !!!
Berlin Warrior, Berlin,