The popular travel guide Lonely Planet has named the cities that will be especially appealing to tourists who enjoy unusual architecture. The ranking is aimed at those who have already visited the world's leading architectural centers—Paris, New York, and London—and are looking for new destinations.
Barcelona tops the top 10, where Roman ruins and Gothic cathedrals blend with the whimsical buildings of Antoni Gaudí. Experts recommend visiting not only the unfinished masterpiece Sagrada Familia, but also such creations as Casa Batlló and Park Güell. Istanbul ranks second. The city's millennia-long heritage includes numerous palaces and towers built during the Greek, Roman, Byzantine, and Ottoman periods. Of particular interest to architecture buffs are the 6th-century Hagia Sophia, the 17th-century Blue Mosque, and Topkapi Palace.
Rome ranks third. In the Eternal City, experts recommend wandering the Colosseum and Palatine Hill, visiting the Pantheon, seeing the works of Michelangelo and Bernini in St. Peter's Basilica, or simply strolling the streets of Rome with its countless Baroque palaces and fountains.
Shanghai and Baku also made the top five architecturally stunning cities. Shanghai boasts noteworthy Art Deco structures and stunning skyscrapers. The Shanghai Tower, the Shanghai World Financial Center, and the Himalayan Museum are also must-sees. In the capital of Azerbaijan, stroll the medieval streets of the Old Town, visit the Maiden's Tower, and the Heydar Aliyev Cultural Center.
Lonely Planet experts also included Brazil, Oxford, Miami, Mumbai, and Chicago in the top 10 cities with unusual architecture.
Source: news.turizm.ru