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Taj Mahal, Agra, India

An irresistible combination of breathtaking architecture, exquisite adornment and a legendary love story, the Taj Mahal’s reputation for romance is fully deserved. The flawless marble tomb and beautiful, tranquil gardens stand as testament to one man’s love for his wife, and to the dedication of the 20,000 workers who built it. It took 22 years to complete, so visit it at leisure and savour the experience.

Haghia Sophia, Istanbul, Turkey

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Imbued with over 1400 years of history and intended as an earthly reflection of the glory of the heavens, the Haghia Sophia is remarkable for its majestic architecture, tangible sense of ancient calm and vivid Byzantine mystery. In a world often considered devoid of spirituality, this is a place that offers visitors a definite feeling of a celestial ‘something’.

Flatiron Building, New York, USA

Amongst the first skyscrapers in a city seduced by the notion of reaching for the stars, the Flatiron pulls off the tricky combination of being both legendary and cool. It was feared that its iconic and daring triangular shape would be unable to stand the winds it generated, but 100 years on it still defines the innovative spirit that makes New York great.

The Radcliffe Camera, Bodleian Library, Oxford, England

In a city crammed with astonishing architecture, much of it literally hidden behind closed doors, the Bodleian Library sits uninhibited and unflustered in its own patch, surrounded by other buildings, but holding them at arm's length with it's scholarly doughtiness. It is enigmatically circular amongst the corners and right angles of Oxford.

The Houses of Parliament, London, England

With indomitable English spirit, the Houses of Parliament as we know them today rose, phoenix-like, from the ashes of a catastrophic fire and have since survived both German air-raids and pollution-inflicted dilapidation. Astonishingly ornate Gothic decoration on an almost inconceivable scale and an iconic riverside location make this a building to appreciate up-close and from afar.

Transamerica Building, San Francisco, USA

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