10 Walls from Around the World

10 Walls from Around the World

From the Great Wall of China to the Berlin Wall the world is full of looming creations we know as simple walls. Some were built to protect communities while others were built to oppress them. While some still serve great purposes, many of today’s greatest walls are merely historic relics and others were built specifically to serve as reminders of times past. Here are a few of the most amazing walls still in existence today.

10. Berlin Wall – Germany

The Berlin Wall loomed over the city of Berlin for 28 years, constantly reminding citizens of the horrors associated with the Cold War. A concrete version of the Iron Curtain, the wall stood from 1961 until 1989, when it was finally destroyed. November of 2009 will mark the 20^th anniversary of the destruction of this oppressive concrete beast.

9. Kremlin Wall – Moscow

The looming red brick wall that surrounds the Kremlin in Moscow has been standing for more than 700 years. The Kremlin Wall stretches 1.4 miles around the Red Square, contains 4 distinct medieval gateways, and has more than 20 looming towers. Some of Russia’s most famous dignitaries, including Stalin and Brezhnev, are buried in the necropolis at the Kremlin Wall.

8. The Western Wall – Jerusalem

The history behind the Western Wall, also known as the Wailing Wall, also known as al-Buraq, is somewhat convoluted. The Muslims consider al-Buraq to be a holy site because they believe Muhammad kept his horse there. The Jews consider it a place to mourn the destruction of the Jewish Temple. The Muslims and Israeli government, on the other hand, state that the Jews have no right to claim this site as a shrine.

7. Tzompantli – Mexico

In Mexico’s Chichen Itza ruins you’ll find Tzompantli, often referred to as the “Wall of Skulls.” Back in the days of the Mayan empire, the skulls of victims used for sacrificial rituals were placed on the wall. The wall itself is carved with hundreds of life-sized skulls as well as with pictures depicting other rituals.

6. Hadrian’s Wall – England

Hadrian’s Wall was originally built during the 2^nd century because the Roman emperor, Hadrian, was fed up with fighting. The wall reaches from the North Sea to the Irish Sea and was at one point the mark that represented the boundary line of the current Roman Empire. The wall can be toured by visitors following some of the area’s most popular hiking trails.

5. Medinet Habu – Egypt

The wall known as Medinet Habu is the last standing piece of what was once the Mortuary Temple of Ramsses III. Built during the 12^th century BC, the wall stands approximately 60 feet high and boasts more than 75,000 square feet of ornate historic depictions and decorations.

4. Great Wall of China – China

Construction on the Great Wall of China began around 221 BC and continued for more than 17 centuries. Currently believed to be around 3,900 miles long, the brick path seems to grow more every year as new sections are discovered. A large stretch of the wall was used for cyclers during the 2008 Summer Olympics.

3. Santa Maria delle Grazie – Italy

You may not be familiar with the wall known as Santa Maria delle Grazie but we’re pretty sure you’ve seen a depiction of Leonardo da Vinci’s “The Last Supper” at least once in your life. This astounding wall is the home to the original painting, which was completed in 1498. Despite the rest of the convent having been destroyed in 1943, this historic rendition has survived unscathed.

2. Green Monster – Boston

Sports fans appreciate the presence of the 37 foot high Green Monster at Fenway Park in Boston. The wall, despite having been destroyed by fire in 1934, has been rebuilt and reworked several times. The current wall is covered in hard plastic siding and touts a vintage scoreboard – remnants of the past.

1. Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall – Washington, DC

The Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall in Washington, DC may not be the oldest wall on our list but it is certainly a treasure to the millions of people who visit it each year. The construction of the wall was completed in 1982 and features the names of more than 58,000 Americans who either passed away or were marked MIA between 1959 and 1975 in Indochina.

Some are fun, some are awe inspiring, and some evoke a sense of pride or curiosity. Regardless of the outcome, we’re sure you’ll find each and every wall on this list worth visiting at least once in your life.