The charm of carved stone has fascinated the humanity since ancient times, but when this art extends to the architecture of a large building or even an entire city, the result is one that seems almost unreal. Tourist attractions below are the best examples!
1. Ellora, India
Few people know that the archaeological site Ellora in India is hosting, most likely, the largest stone carvings from around the globe. They reflect the traditions of Hindu, Buddhist and Jain and are dating from 5-10th century. Each cave is distinguished by a remarkable beauty, being living witnesses of ancient civilizations spirituality. The monuments illustrate perfectly the spirit of tolerance characteristic of ancient India, which allowed the three religions to establish their sanctuaries and communities in one place.
2. The artistic Grottoes from Longmen
In China, Xiangshan and Longmenshan Mountains host the artistic Grottoes from Longmen, that hold thousands of statues that represent Buddha and his disciples. The first statues were built between 400 and 1100 BC, through the contribution of religious groups and wealthy families of those times. UNESCO called these immortal works of art “an outstanding manifestation of human artistic creativity” for good reason.
3. Petra
The stone city of Jordan’s wilderness is an archaeological site famous for its architecture, carved almost entirely in the stone of the mountain. One of the most precious cultural properties of man’s heritage, as UNESCO calls it, the city of Petra impresses any pilgrim through its unique sculptures in the world. The most elaborate belong to Al Khazneh temple, being clearly influenced by Ancient Greek architecture.
4. Lycian tombs
Located near the village Dalyan in Turkey, Lycian tombs are carved into the mountain rock, resembling with small huts dating from ancient times. Their shapes vary depending on the social status of those buried, the most impressive of course belongs to those with noble blood. Besides the tombs of ancient populations of this territory, here was found also a collection of old coins of a special historical significance.
5. Rock-carved churches of Lalibela
In Ethiopia, the small town of Lalibela has one of the most visited places of worship in the world: no less than 13 churches carved in stone, with the roof located at ground level. Initially, the site was known as Roha, then King Lalibela changed it in the twelfth century, when he began digging these impressive churches. The rock-carved churches of Lalibela are considered to be “one of the most sacred Ethiopian archaeological sites”, representative for the ancient civilization of Jerusalem.
Did you like this article?
Subscribe to our RSS feed and get more design stuff!
