World's Greatest

Once powerful and populous centers of influence, these cities are now classed as ruins. All lost, one way or another, to the ravages of time. In their re-discovery, these great lost cities are providing clues to how our ancestors existed in the world and remind us that ancient civilizations were not so far removed from our own.

These cities and towns are special places where the past coexists with the present, creating cultures totally unique to their people and their part of the world. Adhering to ancient traditions and introducing modern innovations, these unique places have fostered cultures neither old nor new. They have forged something timeless.

In construction, all buildings must break ground, but only a select few can be groundbreaking. Vastly different in shape, size and function, these diverse buildings prove there is no recipe for greatness, just the fundamental ingredients of vision, bravery and imagination.

A bridge is a structure that's designed to transcend, but a great bridge can do more than link one point to another--it can define the place where it stands. Symbols of human ingenuity, beauty and grandeur, bridges connect us not only to each other but also to the past.

Many of the world's most significant manmade wonders serve not as dwellings, but as powerful signposts. They are towering monuments that illuminate our way or imposing landmarks that warn us to take an alternative route. But more than giving us direction they tell us a story--giving physical form to an ideal. They characterize powerful forces, or commemorate power lost.

They are places of pilgrimage and beacons for believers. Ancient in architecture and detailed in design, these man-made masterpieces stand as testaments to the strength of human faith. In a world fixated on technology and trends, these sites endure as a timeless reminder of resilience, respect and the need to reflect.