Destinations Middle East and Europe
Simply iconic
Which images leap to mind when you think of a) Dubai, B) Rome and C) Egypt? Could it be the tall building that looks like a billowing sail in Dubai (otherwise known as the Burj Al Arab), the Coliseum in Rome and either the Pyramids or a camel for Egypt? Each of these locations has truly iconic buildings that have become symbolic of the cities in which they reside.
Take the aforementioned Burj Al Arab. At the time of its inception, this superstructure made a bold statement about the future for Dubai. Whilst this fast expanding city has given birth to myriad architectural and technological examples since, the Burj Al Arab still stands completely alone in its environment. Piercing the sky at a spectacular 321 metres, it has dominated Dubai’s skyline since its completion in 1999.
From the fantastically modern to the gloriously ancient. The Coliseum enjoys a rather different setting, nestling deep within the chaos of Italian city life. A maelstrom of traffic, with its overture of honks and Italian spirit, whizzes close by. The building that has laid claim to this spot since work began in around 72 AD is still as grand and imposing as it was the day Emperor Titus opened this spectacular amphitheatre here in 80 AD. Where once the arena hosted sea battles and gladiatorial games, today, it stands as one of the most visited relics of antiquity.
More ancient still are the perpetually perplexing pyramids that rise from the grains of Giza’s plateau. Just like the swathed bodies of the kings once ensconced inside - placed there to aid their journey into the afterlife - the pyramids were designed to be left at peace. But the frenetic city of Cairo has spread far since the pyramids’ creation and the wide sprawling fingers of the city creep ever closer to these incredible structures. Now is definitely the time to visit.
So there you have it, three incredible structures that stand as testament to the talents and engineering ingenuity of man - stretching right back before the birth of Christ. Each equally as mind-boggling as the next and each destined to stand as an absolute icon of their birthplace for all time. Powerful images of the mind for sure but, when you’re in their presence, you’ll realise their images only tell part of the story.
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