The world's most impressive cityscapes
21.07.2023 - 07:51
/ roughguides.com
/ Sean Pavone
/ Antoni Gaudí
Shanghai is actually is sinking beneath the weight of its buildings at a rate around 1.5cm a year. That aside, the skyline of China’s economic powerhouse is nothing short of spectacular. Cocktail bars in The Bund’s colonial mansions offer some of the best vantage points for admiring Pudong’s hyper-modern cityscape.
Shanghai by night © ESB Professional/Shutterstock
Matthew Arnold dubbed Oxford the “city of dreaming spires” in his 1865 poem “Thyrsis” and his words still ring true today. This centre of academia is one of Britain’s most beautiful cities, and its skyline of dreamy domes, quads and gothic spires continues to entrance tourists and students alike.
Oxford University City © aslysun/Shutterstock
Morocco’s “red city” has captivated travellers for centuries. Its low, dusky-pink buildings, maze-like souks and frenetic mix of hawkers, tourists and touts make it a seductive introduction to the country. Many buildings still remain from the eleventh century, including the Koutoubia Mosque and Kasbah, while modern wonders include the Majorelle Gardens and luxurious hotels in the Nouvelle Ville.
Market and Food Stalls, Djemaa el-Fna, Marrakesh, Morocco, Africa © Ivan Soto Cobos/Shutterstock
Short on time to see the world? Head to Vegas, where a trip down the strip takes in Paris’s Eiffel Tower, a Venetian gondola ride, an Egyptian pyramid and more. This city of excess has only existed for just over a century, yet is home over eighty per cent of the world’s largest hotels.
Las Vegas, Nevada, USA cityscape along the strip at twilight © Sean Pavone/Shutterstock
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Istanbul is the only city to straddle two continents, sited half in Europe and half in Asia. The city’s fascinating history is reflected in a slew of Byzantine churches, Ottoman Palaces and modern engineering projects. It’s hard to catch a bad angle of the minaret-studded skyline, dominated by the iconic Blue Mosque and Haghia Sofia.
Istanbul, Turkey © Seqoya/Shutterstock
Cuba’s capital is home to over two million souls and the romantic image of vintage cars and peeling, pastel-painted buildings doesn’t ring true all over town. Still, the faded Art Deco elegance of the old city – or Habana Vieja, a UNESCO World Heritage site – attracts millions of visitors each year.
Havana, Cuba © YU_M/Shutterstock
No other city has a relationship with an artist quite like Barcelona does with Antoni Gaudí. From the Sagrada Família – still decades away from completion – to Parc Güell, his influence can be felt all over Catalunya’s capital. He’s best known for his modernist mosaics, which strike an interesting contrast to modern buildings like the waterfront W Hotel.
Sagrada Familia Cathedral in Barcelona, Spain © R.M. Nunes/Shutterstock
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